Entry for Huperzia gnidioides var. gnidioides [family LYCOPODIACEAE]
Entry From
Flora of Tropical East Africa, page 1, (2005) Author: B. Verdcourt, B.Sc., Ph.D.
Names
Huperzia gnidioides var. gnidioides [family LYCOPODIACEAE]
Lycopodium gnidioides L.f. [family LYCOPODIACEAE], Suppl. Pl.: 448 (1782); Hieron. in P.O.A. C: 90 (1895); Sim, Ferns S. Afr. ed. 2: 326, t. 177 (1915); F.D.-O.A.: 88 (1929); Chr. in Dansk Bot. Arkiv 7: 190 (1932); Schelpe, F.Z. Pterid.: 18 (1970); Schelpe, Expl. Hydrobiol. Bassin L. Bangweolo & Luapula 8 (3) Ptérid: 11 (1973); W. Jacobsen in J. S. Afr. Bot. 44: 157–163, figs. 1, A, B (1978); Schelpe & Diniz, Fl. Moçamb., Pterid.: 13 (1979); W. Jacobsen, Ferns S. Afr.: 135, figs. 77a, 77b (1983); Schelpe & N.C. Anthony, F.S.A. Pterid.: 9, fig. 3/1 (1986); J.E. Burrows, S. Afr. Ferns: 14, t. 1/5, figs. 3/5, 5a, 5b (1990)
Distribution
KENYA S Nyeri District Mt Kenya, by R. Karute, 8 km N of Castle Forest Station, 15 Jan. 1985, Townsend 2209!UGANDA Ankole District Bunyaruguru, Kalinzu Forest, W of Rubuzugye, 4 km NW of saw mill, 19 Sept. 1969, Faden et al. 69/1146! & Bushenyi, S Kasyoha-Kitomi forest, Ngozi, June 1998, Hafashimana 638!;UGANDA Kigezi District Rukungiri, Kayonza, Burindi forest, Ihihozo, Aug. 1998, Hafashimana 758!
Notes
The Uganda material is certainly not identical with Mauritian material having more ovate, keeled sporophylls and some foliage differences, but the variation of this species needs detailed study throughout its range. Jacobsen has discussed this in the 1978 paper cited above and divides the species into three taxa, ‘form’ 1, ‘form’ 3, and ‘form’ 2 which he treats as L. gnidioides var. pinifolium (Kaulf.) Pappe & Rawson. He treats form 1 and 3 together i.e. they form var. gnidioides (he is not using form in its strict botanical sense). The Uganda material appears to be closest to form 3. Schelpe & Anthony and Burrows have not recognised var. pinifolium but Tardieu recognises it as a separate species Huperzia stricta (Bak.) Tard. (syn. Lycopodium strictum Bak., L. gnidioides L. f. var. strictum (Bak.) Chr., L. pinifolium Kaulf.). It is an erect terrestrial plant with the fertile parts drooping and ovate sporophylls and would certainly seem to be distinct at some level.