Swaziland ferns and fern allies
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Actiniopteris
Actiniopteris [family PTERIDACEAE]
Swaziland Ferns and Fern Allies, (2003) Author: J.P. Roux
South African National Biodiversity Institute, Compton Herbarium, Cape Town (SAM)
Reference Sources
Generic description as for the species. A genus of five species confined to Africa, Madagascar, Arabia and the Indian subcontinent.
None
Actiniopteris radiata (J.König ex Sw.) Link [family PTERIDACEAE]
Swaziland Ferns and Fern Allies, (2003) Author: J.P. Roux
South African National Biodiversity Institute, Compton Herbarium, Cape Town (SAM)
Reference Sources
Distribution: In Swaziland the species is known from the northern parts of the Lubombo mountains only, occurring at altitudes ranging from 120 to 170 m. The species is widespread in the drier parts of east- and south tropical Africa, southern Africa, Egypt, Macaronesia, Afghanistan, Arabia, Sri Lanka, southern India, Yemen and Madagascar.
Plants terrestrial or epilithic. Rhizome short-decumbent, closely branched, to 2 mm in diameter, closely set with roots, persistent stipe bases and bicolorous scales, scales with a crustaceous, black to castaneus central stripe, nitid, and ferrugineus to stramineous, chartaceus to membranous margins, sessile, linear to narrowly lanceolate, base somewhat round-auricled, cordate, entire to repand, apex terminates in an oblong thin-walled cell, to 4 mm long, to 1 mm wide. Fronds crowded, erect, caespitose, homomorphic, to 160 mm long; stipe firm, proximally brown, green higher up, narrowly winged along entire length, shallowly sulcate adaxially, to 130 mm long, to 1.2 mm in diameter, sparsely scaled, scales thin-chartaceus, concolorous, stramineous, sessile, linear-hastate, entire or irregularly set with short marginal outgrowths, apex terminates in an oblong thin-walled cell, to 3 mm long, to 0.5 mm wide; lamina anadromous, firmly herbaceous, flabellate, edges forming an angle of 150-180°, divided into 2 symmetrical halves by a deep median notch, each to 4 times dichotomously branched, to 32 mm long, muricate adaxially, abaxially initially sparsely set with scales similar to, but smaller than, those on the stipe, lamina declinate when desiccated; segments up to 48 per lamina, linear, of variable length, to 1.2 mm wide, each ending in 3 or 4 acute teeth. Venation adaxially obscure, raised abaxially, dichotomously forked, ending in the teeth. Sori linear, along outer segment veins; receptacle nude; sporangium stalk simple, 3-seriate below capsule, capsule broadly elliptic in lateral view, with (17-)19(-20) indurated annulus cells, epistomium (5-)6(-7)-celled, hypostomium (5-)6(-6)-celled; indusium membranous, continuous along segment margin, entire. Spores trilete, tetrahedral-globose, with an equatorial flange, proximal face verrucuose, distal face hemispherical, rugate, (46-)56.2(-60) (m in diameter. Figure 15C.
Adiantum
Adiantum [family PTERIDACEAE]
Swaziland Ferns and Fern Allies, (2003) Author: J.P. Roux
South African National Biodiversity Institute, Compton Herbarium, Cape Town (SAM)
Reference Sources
Plants terrestrial or epilithic. Rhizome creeping, branched, often producing slender stolon-like branches, set with roots, spaced stipe bases and scales, scales chartaceus, castaneus to ferrugineus, sessile, subulate, narrowly lanceolate, cordate to hastate, entire, repand or denticulate, apex terminates in a subulate cell. Fronds crowded or spaced, erect to arching, or pendent; stipe firm, atrocastaneus, nitid, terete, initially sparsely set with scales similar to those on the rhizome, glabrous later; lamina anadromous, ovate, broadly ovate or ovate-deltate, 3 to 5-pinnate, with up to 12 pinna pairs; rachis and lower order axes atrocastaneus, nitid, terete, glabrous, often somewhat flexuose; pinnae petiolate, alternate, basal pinnae largest, widely spaced, more closely spaced distally, spaced or overlapping, 2 to 4-pinnate, basal pinnae often basiscopically developed, inaequilaterally broadly ovate, ovate, ovate-deltate or narrowly elliptic, with up to 9 pinnule pairs; pinnules petiolate, alternate, spaced to overlapping, to 3-pinnate, ovate, broadly ovate, elliptic or narrowly elliptic, with up to 5 segment pairs; segments petiolate, alternate, thinly herbaceous, ovate to elliptic, with up to 3 ultimate segment pairs; ultimate segments petiolate, alternate, thinly herbaceous, flabellate, narrowly to broadly cuneate, variously lobed, lobes oblong-obtuse, dentate; glabrous adaxially and abaxially, articulated. Venation flabellately forked, ending in the margin in the teeth or in the sinuses between the teeth. Sori up to 7 per ultimate segment, borne along the outer margin of the segment lobes, on soral flaps which the veins enter, soral flaps suborbicular, reniform, lunate, or oblong; receptacle nude, or with 1- to 3-celled hairs which often produce a yellow farina; sporangia confined to the veins entering the soral flaps, sessile or short-stalked, stalk simple, 3-seriate below the capsule, capsule circular to obovate in lateral view, with (16-)16, 19 or 21(-22) indurated annulus cells, epistomium (3-)4 or 5(-5)-celled, hypostomium (3-)4 or 5(-6)-celled, stomium with 3 to 5 narrow cells of which the walls are conspicuously thickened; indusium a somewhat modified reflexed lobe margin, margin and adaxial surface often with capitate glands and 2 or 3-celled hairs, or glabrous. Spores tetrahedral-globose, trilete, rugate, rugulose or tuberculate, 25-50 (m in diameter. Chromosome number based on 2n = 58 or 60.
None
Adiantum capillus-veneris L. [family PTERIDACEAE]
Swaziland Ferns and Fern Allies, (2003) Author: J.P. Roux
South African National Biodiversity Institute, Compton Herbarium, Cape Town (SAM)
Reference Sources
Distribution: Frequent and widespread in the high- and middleveld regions of Swaziland, occurring at altitudes ranging between 600 to 1 370 m. Near-cosmopolitan and widespread in sub-Saharan Africa.
Plants terrestrial or epilithic. Rhizome creeping, branched, to 4 mm in diameter, set with roots, spaced stipe bases and scales, scales chartaceus, ferrugineus, sessile, subulate, cordate to hastate, entire to denticulate, apex terminates in a subulate cell, to 5 mm long, to 0.7 mm wide. Fronds to 7 mm apart, erect to arching, or pendent, to 420 mm long; stipe firm, atrocastaneus, nitid, terete, to 215 mm long, to 1.2 mm in diameter, initially sparsely set with scales similar to those on the rhizome, glabrous later; lamina anadromous, ovate to broadly ovate, to 3-pinnate, to 270 mm long, to 240 mm wide, with up to 9 pinna pairs; rachis and lower order axes atrocastaneus, nitid, terete, glabrous; pinnae petiolate, petiole to 23 mm long, alternate, basal pinnae largest, widely spaced, more closely spaced distally, spaced or overlapping, to 2-pinnate, basal pinnae often basiscopically developed, inaequilaterally broadly ovate to narrowly elliptic, to 140 mm long, to 80 mm wide, with up to 6 pinnule pairs; pinnules petiolate, petiole to 8 mm long, alternate, spaced to overlapping, broadly ovate to narrowly elliptic, acroscopic pinnule on the basal pinna to 42 mm long, to 32 mm wide, basiscopic pinnule on basal pinna to 62 mm long, to 40 mm wide; segments petiolate, petioles to 3 mm long, alternate, filiform, thinly herbaceous, glabrous, narrowly to broadly cuneate, to 26 mm long, to 25 mm wide, variously lobed, lobes oblong-obtuse, dentate. Venation flabellately forked, ending in margin in the teeth. Sori borne along outer margin of segment lobes, on soral flaps which veins enter, soral flaps lunate to oblong, to 5 mm long, to 1 mm wide; sporangia confined to veins, sessile, capsule circular to obovate in lateral view, with (17-)21(-22) indurated annulus cells, epistomium (3-)4(-5)-celled, hypostomium (4-)4(-5)-celled, stomium with 4 to 5 narrow cells of which walls are conspicuously thickened. Spores 64 per sporangium, brown, tetrahedral-globose, trilete, rugose, exospore (40-)46.82(-52) (m in equatorial diameter. Figure 20C & D.
Adiantum poiretii Wikstr. [family PTERIDACEAE]
Swaziland Ferns and Fern Allies, (2003) Author: J.P. Roux
South African National Biodiversity Institute, Compton Herbarium, Cape Town (SAM)
Reference Sources
Distribution: Sporadic in Swaziland and currently known from the north-western part of the country, occurring at altitudes ranging between 1 300 to 1 400 m. Widespread in sub-Saharan Africa, the western Indian Ocean region, India, the mid-Atlantic islands and Central and South America.
Plants terrestrial or epilithic. Rhizome short-creeping, branched, to 2.5 mm in diameter, producing slender stolon-like branches, to 50 mm long, to 1.2 mm in diameter, at apex of which is produced the shorter, somewhat thicker, frond-bearing part, set with roots, crowded stipe bases and scales, scales chartaceus to crustaceous, castaneus to ferrugineus, sessile, narrowly lanceolate, cordate, entire to shallowly repand, apex terminates in a short subulate cell, to 5 mm long, to 1.2 mm wide. Fronds crowded, erect to arching, to 750 mm long, to 10 per plant; stipe firm, atrocastaneus, nitid, terete, to 360 mm long, to 2 mm in diameter, initially sparsely set with scales similar to those on rhizome, glabrous later; lamina anadromous, ovate-deltate, to 5-pinnate, to 400 mm long, to 280 mm wide, with up to 12 pinna pairs; rachis and lower order axes atrocastaneus, nitid, terete, glabrous, often somewhat flexuose; pinnae petiolate, petiole to 34 mm long, alternate, basal pinnae largest, widely spaced, more closely spaced distally, spaced or overlapping, to 4-pinnate, ovate-deltate, to 225 mm long, to 115 mm wide, with up to 9 pinnule pairs; pinnules petiolate, petiole to 22 mm long, alternate, spaced or overlapping, to 3-pinnate, ovate to elliptic, to 90 mm long, to 55 mm wide, with up to 5 segment pairs; segments petiolate, petiole to 10 mm long, alternate, ovate to elliptic, to 42 mm long, to 22 mm wide, with up to 3 pairs of ultimate segments; ultimate segments petiolate, petioles to 4 mm long, alternate filiform, articulated, thinly herbaceous, glabrous, semicircular to reniform, to 12 mm long, to 16 mm wide, lobed, lobes dentate to crenulate. Venation flabellately forked, ending in margin in sinuses between the teeth. Sori up to 7 per ultimate segment, along outer margin of lobes, lunate, to 4 mm long; receptacle with 1 to 3-celled hairs often producing a yellow farina, hairs to 80 (m long, similar hairs also occur on the indusial flap between veins; sporangia confined to veins entering indusial flaps, short-stalked, stalk simple, 3-seriate below capsule, capsule circular to obovate in lateral view, with (16-)16(-19) indurated annulus cells, epistomium (4-)5(-5)-celled, hypostomium (3-)4(-4)-celled, stomium with 3 to 4 cells with conspicuously thickened walls; indusium a somewhat modified reflexed lobe margin, oblong, to 4 mm long, to 1 mm wide, margin and adaxial surface set with capitate glands and 2 to 3-celled hairs. Spores 64 per sporangium, yellow, globose, trilete, rugose, exospore (40-)43.05(-46) (m in equatorial diameter. Figure 20E.
Adiantum raddianum C.Presl [family PTERIDACEAE]
Swaziland Ferns and Fern Allies, (2003) Author: J.P. Roux
South African National Biodiversity Institute, Compton Herbarium, Cape Town (SAM)
Reference Sources
Distribution: The species has become naturalised in the north-western part of Swaziland, occurring at altitudes ranging between 1 300 and 1 400 m. A native of South America now naturalised in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa.
Plants terrestrial or epilithic. Rhizome short-creeping, irregularly branched, to 50 mm long, to 2 mm in diameter, set with roots, closely spaced persistent stipe bases and scales, scales firmly chartaceus, castaneus, adnate, subulate to narrowly triangular, entire to denticulate, apex terminates in a short subulate cell, to 1 mm long, to 0.3 mm wide. Fronds to 4 mm apart, erect to arching, to 640 mm long; stipe firm, atrocastaneus, nitid, terete, to 350 mm long, to 1.2 mm in diameter, basally set with scales similar to those on rhizome, to 2 mm long, to 0.5 mm wide, glabrous apically; lamina anadromous, ovate to broadly ovate, to 3-pinnate, to 300 mm long, to 220 mm wide, with up to 12 pinna pairs; rachis and lower order axes atrocastaneus, nitid, terete, glabrous; pinnae petiolate, petiole to 25 mm long, alternate, basal pinnae largest, more widely spaced than apically, usually overlapping, to 2-pinnate, ovate, to 130 mm long, to 90 mm wide, with up to 8 pinnule pairs; pinnules petiolate, petiole to 8 mm long, alternate, usually overlapping, ovate, to 55 mm long, to 36 mm wide, with up to 5 segment pairs; ultimate segments petiolate, petioles to 2 mm long, alternate, thinly herbaceous, flabellate, narrowly to broadly cuneate, variously lobed, lobes dentate, to 10 mm long, to 10 mm wide, glabrous adaxially and abaxially. Venation evident, flabellately forked, ending in margin in sinus between teeth. Sori borne along outer margin of ultimate segment lobes, on soral flaps which veins enter, soral flaps membranous, subcircular to reniform, to 2 mm in diameter; sporangia confined to veins, sessile, capsule circular to obovate in lateral view, with (19-)19(-21) indurated annulus cells, epistomium (4-)5(-5)-celled, hypostomium (4-)5(-6)-celled, stomium with 3 to 4 narrow cells of which walls are conspicuously thickened; Spores brown, tetrahedral-globose, trilete, rugulose, exospore (40-)44(-48) (m in equatorial diameter. Figure 20F.
Amauropelta
Amauropelta [family THELYPTERIDACEAE]
Swaziland Ferns and Fern Allies, (2003) Author: J.P. Roux
South African National Biodiversity Institute, Compton Herbarium, Cape Town (SAM)
Reference Sources
Generic description as for the species. A genus of approximately 200 species occurring mainly in the neotropics with a few species in Africa and the western Indian Ocean region.
None
Amauropelta bergiana (Schltdl.) Holttum var bergiana [family THELYPTERIDACEAE]
Swaziland Ferns and Fern Allies, (2003) Author: J.P. Roux
South African National Biodiversity Institute, Compton Herbarium, Cape Town (SAM)
Reference Sources
Distribution: Sporadic in the western half of Swaziland occurring at altitudes ranging between 600 and 1 520 m. Widespread in west central tropical Africa, east tropical Africa and the eastern parts of south tropical and southern Africa and the western Indian Ocean region.
Plants terrestrial. Rhizome erect to suberect, simple, to 70 mm long, to 5 mm in diameter, densely set with roots, crowded stipe bases, and scales, scales chartaceus, castaneus to ferrugineus, sessile, lanceolate, cordate, margins and scale surfaces set with unicellular acicular hairs, margins also with unicellular oblong and globose, thin-walled cells, apex terminates in a large thin-walled cell, to 7 mm long, to 2 mm wide. Fronds crowded, caespitose, erect to arching, to 740 mm long, to 10 per plant; stipe firm, purple-brown, adaxially sulcate, to 155 mm long, to 3 mm in diameter, proximally densely set with scales similar to those on the rhizome, sparsely scaled distally, densely set with hyaline, unicellular, acicular or uncinate hairs, to 0.4 mm long; lamina 1-pinnate, narrow-elliptic to lanceolate, to 575 mm long, to 190 mm wide, with up to 18 free pinna pairs, several pairs gradually reduced towards the base; rachis purple-brown, adaxially sulcate, sulcus not open to that of the costa, densely set with hairs similar to those on the stipe; pinnae herbaceous, alternate to opposite, spaced, those at the base more widely spaced than those higher up, sessile, oblong-cuneate, to 105 mm long, to 18 mm wide, deeply lobed, lobes dentate to crenulate, to 8 mm long, to 4 mm wide, adaxially closely set with hyaline, unicellular, acicular hairs along and between the veins, abaxially closely set with unicellular, acicular and uncinate hairs on and between the veins; costa adaxially sulcate, pronounced abaxially, set with hairs similar to those on the rachis. Venation proximally anadromous, distally catadromous, evident, pinnately branched in the lobes, branches simple, free, ending in the margin in the sinus between the teeth. Sori circular, medial on the veins, up to 9 pairs per lobe; indusium chartaceus, brown, reniform to subcircular, with unicellular acicular hairs along the margin and on the indusium surface, to 1 mm in diameter; receptacle nude; sporangium long-stalked, 3-seriate below the capsule, simple, capsule circular in lateral view, with (13-)13(-14) indurated annulus cells, epistomium (3-)4(-5)-celled, hypostomium (3-)5(-6)-celled. Spores 64 per sporangium, brown, ellipsoidal, monolete, irregularly reticulate, (48-)54.87(-62) x (28-)29.62(-32) (m. Figure 31F & G.
Amauropelta bergiana (Schltdl.) Holttum [family THELYPTERIDACEAE]
Swaziland Ferns and Fern Allies, (2003) Author: J.P. Roux
South African National Biodiversity Institute, Compton Herbarium, Cape Town (SAM)
Reference Sources
None
Ampelopteris
Ampelopteris [family THELYPTERIDACEAE]
Swaziland Ferns and Fern Allies, (2003) Author: J.P. Roux
South African National Biodiversity Institute, Compton Herbarium, Cape Town (SAM)
Reference Sources
None
Ampelopteris prolifera (Retz.) Copel. [family THELYPTERIDACEAE]
Swaziland Ferns and Fern Allies, (2003) Author: J.P. Roux
South African National Biodiversity Institute, Compton Herbarium, Cape Town (SAM)
Reference Sources
Distribution: Sporadic in Swaziland and known from the banks of the Komati and Mbuluzi rivers only, occurring at altitudes ranging between 100 and 600 m. The species is widespread throughout the palaeotropics.
Plants terrestrial. Rhizome wide-creeping, to 8 mm in diameter, irregularly branched, set with roots, spaced stipe bases, and sparsely set with scales, scales chartaceus, castaneus, sessile, ovate, cordate to cordate-imbricate, repand, often irregularly set with oblong thin-walled cells, apex terminates in an oblong thin-walled cell, to 2.5 mm long, to 1.5 mm wide. Fronds to 15 mm apart, straggling, to 1.3 mm long; stipe proximally black, brown to stramineous distally, adaxially shallowly sulcate, to 325 mm long, to 4 mm in diameter, set with hairs and scales, hairs are unicellular and acicular, to 0.3 mm long, scales sparsely set, chartaceus, ferrugineus, sessile, lanceolate to ovate, cordate-imbricate, margins variously set with oblong thin-walled cells, unicellular acicular cells and uniseriate hairs several cells long, of which the apical cell is enlarged, apex terminates in an oblong thin-walled cell, to 4.5 mm long, to 0.6 mm wide; lamina 1-pinnate, oblong-acute, to 1 m long, to 165 mm wide, with up to 22 free pinna pairs, the basal pinnae often significantly reduced, irregularly proliferous along the rachis; rachis stramineous, adaxially sulcate, sulcus not open to that of the costa, closely set with hairs similar to that on the stipe, also with 2-celled glandular hairs, sparsely scaled, scales chartaceus, ferrugineus to stramineous, sessile, ovate, cordate to cordate-imbricate, margins closely set with unicellular acicular hairs, apex terminates in an oblong thin-walled cell, to 1.5 mm long, to 0.4 mm wide, proliferating buds confined to the pinna axils, scaled, scales chartaceus, ferrugineus, similar to, but larger than, those on the rachis, to 1.5 mm long, to 0.5 mm wide; pinnae herbaceous, alternate, short-stalked, stalk to 1 mm long, oblong-acute, obtuse to truncate, often slightly inaequilateral, crenate, to 103 mm long, to 17 mm wide, adaxially glabrous, abaxially with hyaline, unicellular, acicular hairs along the costa and veins, sparsely scaled, scales chartaceus, ferrugineus, sessile, cordate, margins set with acicular hairs, apex terminates in an oblong cell, to 0.8 mm long, to 0.4 mm wide; costa adaxially shallowly sulcate, variously set with unicellular acicular hairs, abaxially pronounced, variously set with acicular hairs and scales similar to those on the rachis. Venation anadromous to catadromous, evident, pinnately branched in the lobes, veins simple, with up to 7 vein pairs of adjacent lobes anastomosing, the flexuose excurrent vein running to the sinus between two adjacent pinna lobes, the 2 to 5 free vein branch pairs end in the margin. Sori elongate, medial or inframedial on the anastomosing and free vein branches, sori often confluent and then without an excurrent vein, exindusiate; receptacle with simple, pluricellular hairs of which the apical cell is yellow and significantly enlarged; sporangium short-stalked, simple or occasionally with a hair similar to that on the receptacle, 3-seriate below the capsule, capsule globose to obovate, with (16-)18(-19) indurated annulus cells, epistomium (3-)4(-5)-celled, hypostomium (4-)4(-6)-celled. Spores 64 per sporangium, brown, ellipsoidal, monolete, echinulate. Figure 30C-E.
Anemia
Anemia [family ANEMIACEAE]
Swaziland Ferns and Fern Allies, (2003) Author: J.P. Roux
South African National Biodiversity Institute, Compton Herbarium, Cape Town (SAM)
Reference Sources
Generic description as for the species. A genus of approximately 100 species, mainly occurring in the warmer parts of North and South America with a few species in Africa, Madagascar and the Indian subcontinent.
None
Anemia dregeana Kunze [family ANEMIACEAE]
Swaziland Ferns and Fern Allies, (2003) Author: J.P. Roux
South African National Biodiversity Institute, Compton Herbarium, Cape Town (SAM)
Reference Sources
Distribution: In Swaziland the species appears to be confined to the Sondeza mountains along the northern border of the country, occurring at altitudes between 500 and 1 200 m. The species is restricted to the eastern parts of South Africa and Swaziland.
Plants terrestrial or epilithic. Rhizome short-decumbent to suberect, to 4 mm in diameter, closely set with roots, persistent stipe bases and hairs, hairs ferrugineus, pluricellular, uniseriate, to 8 mm long. Fronds crowded, caespitose, hemidimorphic, to 370 mm long; stipe firm, proximally castaneus, stramineous higher up, shallowly sulcate adaxially, to 150 mm long, to 1.6 mm in diameter, proximally densely set with hairs similar to those on the rhizome, higher up moderately set with similar, but shorter hairs; lamina anadromous and/or catadromous, sterile 1-pinnate, oblong-acuminate to narrowly elliptic, with up to 14 petiolated pinna pairs, to 190 mm long, to 58 mm wide, fertile with a pair of highly modified basal pinnae; rachis stramineous, adaxially sulcate, closely haired, hairs thinly crustaceous, ferrugineus, pluricellular, uniseriate, to 2 mm long; pinnae: sterile herbaceous, sessile, broadly ovate to inaequilaterally trullate, acute to obtuse, base inaequilateral, basiscopically narrowly to broadly cuneate, acroscopically truncate to narrowly cuneate, larger often acroscopically auricled, crenate, to 37 mm long, to 20 mm wide, adaxially and abaxially with hairs similar to those on rachis along veins, to 1.5 mm long, the fertile erect, petiolate, petiole to 125 mm long, to 2-pinnate-pinnatifid, lamina highly skeletonised, to 120 mm long. Venation anadromous and/or catadromous, free, evident, forked, ending near the margin. Sporangia borne singly at vein endings, sessile, ovoid, with a subapical, uniseriate annulus with a well-defined stomium, dehiscing by a vertical slit. Spores numerous, globose to tetrahedral-globose, trilete, with coarse ridges and grooves, the ridges coarsely tuberculate, exospore 50 x 57 (m in diameter. Figure 13C & D.
Arthropteris
Arthropteris [family OLEANDRACEAE]
Swaziland Ferns and Fern Allies, (2003) Author: J.P. Roux
South African National Biodiversity Institute, Compton Herbarium, Cape Town (SAM)
Reference Sources
Generic description as for the species. A genus of approximately 15 species with a palaeotropical distribution.
None
Arthropteris monocarpa (Cordem.) C.Chr. [family OLEANDRACEAE]
Swaziland Ferns and Fern Allies, (2003) Author: J.P. Roux
South African National Biodiversity Institute, Compton Herbarium, Cape Town (SAM)
Reference Sources
Distribution: Rare in Swaziland and only known from a single isolated valley in the north-western corner of the country, at an altitude of ±600 m. The species is widespread in sub-Saharan Africa and the western Indian Ocean region.
Plants terrestrial, epilithic or epiphytic. Rhizome wide-creeping, irregularly laterally branched, to 3 mm in diameter, set with roots, widely spaced persistent phyllopodia to 20 mm long, and scales, scales chartaceus, castaneus to ferrugineous, peltate, circular to subcircular, margins regularly set with uni- and bicellular capitate hairs, adaxial surface closely set with filiform uni- or pluricellular hairs, to 2 mm long, to 1.5 mm wide. Fronds erect to arching, widely spaced, articulated to phyllopodia, to 60 mm apart, to 765 mm long; stipe articulated to the phyllopodia, firm, proximally castaneus, stramineous higher up, adaxially sulcate, to 235 mm long, to 2.5 mm in diameter, set with hairs and scales, hairs pluricellular, acicular, or 2 to 3-celled and clavate, to 120 (m long, sparsely scaled, scales chartaceus, ferrugineous, adnate to sessile, broadly ovate, cordate, margins regularly set with unicellular, thin-walled cells, to 2 mm long, to 1.8 mm wide; lamina catadromous, 1-pinnate-pinnatifid, narrow-elliptic, to 520 mm long, to 175 mm wide, with up to 22 sessile pinna pairs; rachis adaxially sulcate, closely set with hairs similar to those on the stipe; pinnae opposite to alternate, more widely spaced and often slightly reduced basally, oblong-cuneate, pinnatifid, adnate and basiscopically decurrent towards the apex, to 85 mm long, to 27 mm wide; costa adaxially convex, densely set with hairs similar to those on the rachis; pinnules herbaceous, adnate, oblong-acute to oblong-obtuse, basiscopically decurrent, 4 mm long, to 6.5 mm in diameter, dentate, adaxially and abaxially regularly set with acicular hairs to 1 mm long along the veins and margin, and with 3-celled clavate hairs on the lamina between the veins, the 2 apical cells being shorter and gland-like, to 110 (m long. Venation evident, pinnately branched, vein branches terminate in a hydathode in the teeth near the margin, often exuding a white crystalline substance adaxially. Sori circular, to 1.2 mm in diameter, terminally on an abbreviated anadromous vein branch; sporangium long-stalked, simple, 3-seriate below the capsule, capsule globose in lateral view, with (10-)13(-15) indurated annulus cells, epistomium (3-)4(-4)-celled, hypostomium 4-celled. Indusium chartaceus, brown, reniform, margin and surface closely set with unicellular capitate gland-like hairs, to 1 mm in diameter. Spores 64 per sporangium, elliptic to spheroidal, monolete, brown, with narrow reticulate wings, exospore (36-)38.08(-42) x (26-)27.13(-32) (m. Figure 42A & B.
Asplenium
Asplenium [family ASPLENIACEAE]
Swaziland Ferns and Fern Allies, (2003) Author: J.P. Roux
South African National Biodiversity Institute, Compton Herbarium, Cape Town (SAM)
Reference Sources
Plants terrestrial, epilithic or epiphytic. Rhizome short to wide-creeping, or erect to suberect, simple or branched, closely set with roots, persistent stipe bases and scales, scales thinly chartaceus, chartaceus or crustaceous, clathrate, sessile or adnate, entire or variously set with outgrowths, apex terminates in a thin-walled cell. Fronds monomorphic, crowded and caespitose or closely to widely spaced, erect, suberect, or arching; stipe generally with two distinct vascular bundles uniting upwards into a single X-shaped bundle, firm, terete, adaxially sulcate, or the sulcus centrally raised, often narrowly green-winged for most of the length, or in the upper half, variously set with glands, hairs and scales, hairs 3 to 4-celled, scales chartaceus, clathrate, sessile, cordate to cordate-imbricate, entire or variously set with outgrowths, apex terminates in a thin-walled cell; lamina anadromous, herbaceous to firmly herbaceous, or coriaceus, 1 to 3-pinnate, with up to 36 petiolated pinna pairs, often with a proliferous bud adaxially on the rachis near the apex, or at the apex of a rachis extension; rachis and lower order axes firm, terete, sulcate, or sulcus centrally ridged, adaxially, often narrowly green-winged, variously set with glands and scales similar to, but smaller than, those on the stipe. Stomata usually of the anomocytic and copolocytic types, hypostomatic. Venation anadromous, free, obscure or evident, often raised adaxially, flabellately forked, or pinnately branched, ending near the margin. Sori linear, extending along a vein, inframedial, medial, or supramedial, at, below, or above a vein fork, or cupuliform and then borne terminally on each lobe, acentric; receptacle nude or with simple, pluricellular, hair-like paraphyses, apical cell acicular; indusium membranous, herbaceous, or chartaceus, linear or semicircular, entire or lacerate, attached along the entire length; sporangium long-stalked, simple, uniseriate, 3-seriate below the capsule, capsule globose in lateral view, with (16-)18, 19, 21, 23(-27) indurated annulus cells, epistomium (1-)2, 3(-3)-celled, hypostomium (3-)4, 6(-7)-celled. Spores 32 or 64 per sporangium, elliptic to broadly elliptic, monolete, with low, narrow or broad reticulate ridges and prominent wings, often laciniate or erose, the areas between the wings often irregularly echinulate, or with a fine reticulate meshwork, exospore 28-60 x 16-56 (m. Chromosome number 2n = 72, 144 or 288, sexual or apogamous. Asplenium is often subdivided into several smaller genera and subgenera. Morton & Lellinger (1966) recognize Loxoscape T.Moore and placed the species with veins and sori occurring at an acute angle to the costa, and with rachises more or less scaly and sometimes hairy in Asplenium section Sphenopteris Mett. The occurrence of intermediate forms between these genera and sections render most of these classifications unsatisfactory. The classification followed here is conservative in that only two subgenera, Asplenium and Ceterach Willd. are recognized. Asplenium section Hymenasplenium (Hayata) K.Iwats. is widely accepted as a well-defined group (Mitui et al. 1989; Murakami & Moran 1993). The section is defined by creeping rhizomes, dorsiventrally symmetrical steles, swollen stipe bases or trophopods, and chromosome numbers based on n = 38 or 39. Asplenium unilaterale Lam. belongs to this section.
None
Asplenium aethiopicum (Burm.f.) Bech. [family ASPLENIACEAE]
Swaziland Ferns and Fern Allies, (2003) Author: J.P. Roux
South African National Biodiversity Institute, Compton Herbarium, Cape Town (SAM)
Reference Sources
None
Asplenium aethiopicum (Burm.f.) Bech. subsp filare (Forssk.) A.F.Braithw. [family ASPLENIACEAE]
Swaziland Ferns and Fern Allies, (2003) Author: J.P. Roux
South African National Biodiversity Institute, Compton Herbarium, Cape Town (SAM)
Reference Sources
Distribution: Rare in Swaziland and currently known from the Sibebe and Mdzimba mountains only, occurring at altitudes ranging between 1 270 and 1 520 m. The species is restricted to Lesotho, the eastern parts of South Africa and Swaziland.
Plants terrestrial or epilithic. Rhizome short-creeping, sparsely branched, to 60 mm long, to 4 mm in diameter, closely set with roots, persistent stipe bases and scales, scales chartaceous, atrocastaneus to ferrugineus, clathrate, sessile, subulate, cordate-imbricate, usually with a few short, multicellular outgrowths near the base, entire towards the apex, apex terminates in an oblong thin-walled cell, to 5 mm long, to 0.7 mm wide. Fronds closely spaced, suberect to arching, to 250 mm long; stipe atrocastaneus, adaxially sulcate, to 100 mm long, to 2 mm in diameter, densely scaled initially, scales chartaceus, castaneus to ferrugineus, clathrate, sessile, subulate to filiform, cordate to cordate-imbricate, usually with short or long filiform outgrowths terminating in a gland-like cell at the base, entire towards the apex, apex terminates in an oblong thin-walled cell, to 5 mm long, to 0.5 mm wide; lamina anadromous, to 2-pinnate, narrow elliptic, to 170 mm long, to 70 m wide, with up to 10 petiolated pinna pairs; rachis firm, castaneus, sulcate adaxially, initially closely set with scales similar to, but smaller than, those on the stipe; pinnae petiolate, petiole to 2 mm long, opposite to alternate, basally slightly more widely spaced, often overlapping apically, basal two to three pairs gradually reduced, firmly herbaceus, narrowly to broadly trullate, to 45 mm long, to 26 mm wide, generally with a single petiolated pinnule pair; pinna-rachis sulcate adaxially, sulcus confluent with that of the rachis, initially densely scaled, scales similar to those on the rachis; pinnules alternate, sessile, narrowly to broadly cuneate, rhomboid or oblong, 14 mm long, to 7 mm wide, divided into oblong segments, irregularly dentate, adaxially initially sparsely scaled, scales chartaceus, ferrugineus, sessile, filiform, cordate, mostly with one or more gland-like cells at the base, entire towards the apex, apex terminates in an oblong thin-walled cell, to 2 mm long, to 0.3 mm wide, abaxially sparsely scaled, scales chartaceus, castaneus to ferrugineus, clathrate, sessile, subulate to filiform, cordate, usually with short and/or long outgrowths at the base, terminating in an oblong thin-walled cell, apex entire, terminating in an oblong thin-walled cell, to 3 mm long, to 0.4 mm wide. Venation obscure, flabellate, terminating in the teeth near the margin. Sori linear, extending along the vein, to 5.5 mm long; indusium firmly herbaceus, stramineus, linear, entire, attached along the entire length, to 5.5 mm long, to 0.3 mm wide; sporangium long-stalked, simple, uniseriate, 3-seriate below the capsule, capsule globose in lateral view, with (20-)21(-24) indurated annulus cells, epistomium (2-)2(-3)-celled, hypostomium (4-)6(-7)-celled. Spores 32 per sporangium, brown, broadly elliptic to subcircular, monolete, with low reticulate ridges and wings, (48-)53.7(-60) x (42-)47.6(-56) (m. Chromosome number: 2n = 288, octoploid. Figure 46D.
Asplenium aethiopicum (Burm.f.) Bech. subsp tripinnatum (Baker) A.F.Braithw. [family ASPLENIACEAE]
Swaziland Ferns and Fern Allies, (2003) Author: J.P. Roux
South African National Biodiversity Institute, Compton Herbarium, Cape Town (SAM)
Reference Sources
Distribution: Sporadic in the western half of Swaziland, occurring at altitudes ranging between 1 270 and 1 520 m. The species is restricted to the eastern parts of south tropical and southern Africa.
Plants terrestrial or epilithic. Rhizome short-creeping, sparsely branched, to 150 mm long, to 5 mm in diameter, closely set with roots, persistent stipe bases and scales, scales chartaceus, atrocastaneus to ferrugineous, clathrate, sessile, subulate, cordate-imbricate, entire or shallowly dentate, smaller scales often with a few gland-like cells at the base, apex terminates in an oblong thin-walled cell, to 7 mm long, to 0.5 mm wide. Fronds closely spaced, arching, to 1.23 m long; stipe atrocastaneus, adaxially sulcate, to 625 mm long, to 3 mm in diameter, densely scaled initially, scales chartaceus, atrocastaneus to ferrugineous, clathrate, sessile, subulate to filiform, cordate-imbricate, entire or shallowly dentate, smaller scales often with a few gland-like cells at the base, apex terminates in an oblong thin-walled cell, to 6 mm long, to 0.5 mm wide; lamina anadromous, to 3-pinnate, narrowly elliptic to lanceolate, to 605 mm long, to 150 mm wide, with up to 22 petiolated pinna pairs; rachis firm, atrocastaneus, sulcate adaxially, initially closely set with scales similar to those on the stipe; pinnae petiolate, petiole to 6 mm long, opposite to alternate, basally more widely spaced, often slightly overlapping apically, firmly herbaceous, ovate to lanceolate, to 130 mm long, to 60 mm wide, with up to 6 petiolated pinnule pairs; pinna-rachis sulcate adaxially, sulcus confluent with that of the rachis, initially densely scaled, scales similar to, but smaller than, those on the rachis; pinnules petiolate, petiole to 2 mm long, alternate, spaced, 1-pinnate, trullate to narrowly trullate, to 33 mm long, to 22 mm wide, often with a single pair of petiolated segments; segments narrowly to broadly cuneate, trullate or obtrullate, divided into oblong segments, irregularly dentate, to 10 mm long, to 8 mm wide, adaxially sparsely scaled, scales chartaceus, ferrugineous, clathrate, sessile, filiform, cordate, entire, often with one or more gland-like cells near the base, apex terminates in an oblong thin-walled cell, to 0.3 mm long, abaxially initially moderately scaled, scales chartaceus, ferrugineous, clathrate, sessile, ovate, lanceolate, or filiform, usually with pluricellular filiform outgrowths and gland-like cells at the base, apex terminates in an oblong thin-walled cell, to 2 mm long, to 0.4 mm wide. Venation adaxially obscure, evident abaxially, flabellate, terminating in the teeth near the margin. Stomata (32-)40.04(-48) (m long. Sori linear, extending along a vein, to 5 mm long; indusium firmly herbaceous, stramineous, linear, entire, attached along the entire length, to 5 mm long, to 0.3 mm wide; sporangium long-stalked, simple, uniseriate, 3-seriate below the capsule, capsule globose in lateral view, with (18-)19(-20) indurated annulus cells, epistomium 2-celled, hypostomium (4-)4(-5)-celled. Spores 64 per sporangium, brown, elliptic, monolete, with low reticulate ridges and prominent wings, (30-)34.03(-40) x (18-)20.91(-24) (m. Chromosome number 2n = 144, tetraploid. Figure 46C.
Asplenium aethiopicum (Burm.f.) Bech. subsp aethiopicum [family ASPLENIACEAE]
Swaziland Ferns and Fern Allies, (2003) Author: J.P. Roux
South African National Biodiversity Institute, Compton Herbarium, Cape Town (SAM)
Reference Sources
Distribution: Frequent in the western half of Swaziland occurring at altitudes ranging between 1 060 and 1 520 m. The species is widespread in sub-Saharan Africa.
Plants terrestrial, epilithic or epiphytic. Rhizome short-creeping, sparsely branched, to 120 mm long, to 5 mm in diameter, closely set with roots, persistent stipe bases and scales, scales chartaceus, atrocastaneus to ferrugineous, clathrate, sessile, subulate, cordate-imbricate, entire, apex terminates in an oblong thin-walled cell, to 9 mm long, to 0.6 mm wide. Fronds closely spaced, arching, to 660 mm long; stipe firm, atrocastaneus to black, adaxially sulcate, to 245 mm long, to 2.5 mm in diameter, densely scaled, scales chartaceus, atrocastaneus to ferrugineous, clathrate, sessile, subulate, cordate-imbricate, entire, apex terminates in an oblong thin-walled cell, to 8 mm long, to 0.6 mm wide; lamina anadromous, to 2-pinnate, narrowly elliptic to lanceolate, to 420 mm long, to 105 mm wide, with up to 18 stalked pinna pairs; rachis firm, atrocastaneus to black, sulcate adaxially, initially closely set with scales similar to those on the stipe; pinnae petiolate, petiole to 5 mm long, opposite to alternate, basally slightly more widely spaced, firmly herbaceous, lanceolate, to 70 mm long, to 37 mm wide, with up to 2 pinnule pairs; pinna-rachis sulcate adaxially, sulcus confluent with that of the rachis, initially densely scaled, scales similar to, but smaller than, those on the rachis; pinnules cuneate, trullate or obtrullate, narrowly to broadly cuneate, basiscopically decurrent towards the apex, divided into oblong segments, irregularly dentate, to 25 mm long, to 11 mm wide, adaxially sparsely scaled, scales chartaceus, castaneus, clathrate, sessile, filiform, cordate, entire, often with 2 or more oblong gland-like cells near the base, apex terminates in an oblong thin-walled cell, to 0.3 mm long, abaxially initially moderately scaled, scales chartaceus, ferrugineous, clathrate, sessile, subulate, cordate to cordate-imbricate, usually with several short filiform outgrowths at the base, these generally terminate in an oblong thin-walled cell, apex terminates in an oblong thin-walled cell, to 0.7 mm long, to 0.5 mm wide. Venation obscure, flabellate, terminating in the teeth near the margin. Stomata (36-)47.07(-64) (m long. Sori linear, extending along a vein, to 8.5 mm long; indusium firmly herbaceous, stramineous, linear, entire, attached along the entire length, to 8.5 mm long, to 0.3 mm wide; sporangium long-stalked, simple, uniseriate, 3-seriate below the capsule, capsule globose in lateral view, with (18-)19(-24) indurated annulus cells, epistomium (2-)2(-3)-celled, hypostomium (4-)4(-5)-celled. Spores 64 per sporangium, brown, elliptic, monolete, with low reticulate ridges and prominent wings, (44-)43.73(-54) x (22-)26.72(-34) (m. Chromosome number 2n = 288, octoploid. Figure 46A & B.
Asplenium anisophyllum Kunze [family ASPLENIACEAE]
Swaziland Ferns and Fern Allies, (2003) Author: J.P. Roux
South African National Biodiversity Institute, Compton Herbarium, Cape Town (SAM)
Reference Sources
Distribution: Rare in Swaziland and currently known from the north-western corner of Swaziland only, occurring at an altitude ranging between 1 260 and 1 520 m. Widespread in east and south tropical Africa, the eastern parts of southern Africa, and the western Indian Ocean region.
Plants terrestrial or epilithic. Rhizome short, erect, to 30 mm long, to 10 mm in diameter, set with roots, crowded persistent stipe bases and scales, scales chartaceus, dull brown, clathrate, sessile, oblong-cuneate, cordate to cordate-imbricate, margins regularly set with short and long filiform outgrowths terminating in an enlarged obovate thin-walled cell, usually with a few glandular cells near the point of attachment, apex terminates in an enlarged obovate thin-walled cell, to 13 mm long, to 1.5 mm wide. Fronds crowded, caespitose, suberect to arching, to 740 mm long; stipe firm, castaneus, adaxially sulcate, to 200 mm long, to 4 mm in diameter, initially closely scaled, scales chartaceus, dark brown, clathrate, sessile, linear to filiform, cordate to cordate-imbricate, margins regularly set with short and long filiform outgrowths terminating in an enlarged obovate thin-walled cell, to 5 mm long, to 0.2 mm wide; lamina anadromous, 1-pinnate, elliptic, to 530 mm long, to 280 mm wide, with up to 14 petiolated pinna pairs; rachis firm, adaxially sulcate, green, brown abaxially, sparsely set with scales similar to those on the stipe; pinnae petiolate, petiole to 2 mm long, opposite to alternate, basally more widely spaced than apically, the 2-3 basal pairs generally gradually reduced, firmly herbaceous, inaequilaterally oblong-cuneate to narrowly lanceolate, acroscopically truncate to broadly cuneate, basiscopically narrowly cuneate, dentate, to 150 mm long, to 25 mm wide, adaxially glabrous, abaxially with scattered scales along the costa and veins, scales chartaceus, castaneus, sessile, filiform, with short filiform outgrowths and enlarged thin-walled cells at the point of attachment, apex terminates in an enlarged oblong thin-walled cell, to 1.5 mm long, to 0.4 mm wide; costa adaxially raised, convex. Venation evident, pinnately branched, branches forked, ending in the teeth near the margin. Sori linear, inframedial, extending along a vein, to 4 mm long; indusium firmly herbaceous, stramineous, linear, entire, attached along the entire length, to 4 mm long, to 0.3 m wide; sporangium long-stalked, uniseriate, 3-seriate below the capsule, capsule globose to broadly elliptic in lateral view, annulus with (16-)18(-19) indurated annulus cells, epistomium (2-)3(-3)-celled, hypostomium (3-)4(-4)-celled. Spores 64 per sporangium, brown, broadly elliptic, monolete, perispore forms broad reticulate wings, exospore (34-)35.5(-38) x (24-)26.8(-30) (m. Figure 47A & B.
Asplenium boltonii Hook. ex Brause & Hieron. [family ASPLENIACEAE]
Swaziland Ferns and Fern Allies, (2003) Author: J.P. Roux
South African National Biodiversity Institute, Compton Herbarium, Cape Town (SAM)
Reference Sources
Distribution: Rare in Swaziland and currently known from the north-western corner of the country only, occurring at an altitude of ±1 670 m. Widespread in east tropical Africa and the eastern parts of south tropical and southern Africa, as well as the western Indian Ocean region.
Plants terrestrial, epilithic or epiphytic. Rhizome short, erect to suberect, to 20 mm long, to 5 mm in diameter, set with roots, crowded persistent stipe bases and scales, scales chartaceus to thinly chartaceus, ferrugineous to castaneus, clathrate, adnate, lanceolate, cordate, margins regularly set with short and long filiform outgrowths terminating in an enlarged obovate thin-walled cell, apex terminates in an enlarged thin-walled cell, to 16 mm long, to 3 mm wide. Fronds crowded, caespitose, arching, to 820 mm long; stipe atrocastaneus, matt, adaxially sulcate, to 170 mm long, to 3 mm in diameter, initially densely scaled, scales chartaceus, castaneus, sessile, linear to filiform, cordate to cordate-imbricate, larger scale margins regularly set with short and long filiform outgrowths terminating in an enlarged thin-walled cell, filiform scales with gland-like cells and short outgrowths terminating in an enlarged thin-walled cell at the base, apex terminates in an enlarged thin-walled cell, to 10 mm long, to 1 mm wide; lamina anadromous, 1-pinnate, lanceolate, to 650 mm long, to 190 mm wide, with up to 21 petiolated pinna pairs, with a proliferous bud adaxially on the rachis near the apex; rachis firm, atrocastaneus, adaxially sulcate, moderately set with filiform scales similar to those on the stipe; pinnae petiolate, petiole to 2 mm long, opposite to alternate, basally more widely spaced than apically, the 2-3 basal pairs generally gradually reduced, firmly herbaceous, inaequilaterally lanceolate, often somewhat falcate, acroscopically truncate to broadly cuneate, basiscopically narrowly to broadly cuneate, dentate, usually with alternating shallower and deeper incisions, to 120 mm long, to 20 mm wide, adaxially sparsely set with filiform scales along the costa similar to those on the stipe, abaxially sparsely set with filiform scales along the costa and veins similar to those on the stipe, to 2.5 mm long; costa adaxially raised, convex. Venation anadromous, evident, pinnately branched, branches forked, ending in the teeth near the margin. Sori linear, inframedial, at or above a vein fork, to 8 mm long; indusium chartaceus, stramineous, linear, entire, to 8 mm long, 1.4 mm wide; sporangium long-stalked, uniseriate, 3-seriate below the capsule, capsule globose in lateral view, annulus (17-)19(-20)-celled, epistomium 2-celled, hypostomium 4-celled. Spores 64 per sporangium, brown, elliptic, monolete, perispore forms broad reticulate wings, exospore (40-)46.3(-50) x (30-)31.8(-34) (m. Figure 47C & D.
Asplenium erectum
Asplenium erectum Bory ex Willd. [family ASPLENIACEAE]
Swaziland Ferns and Fern Allies, (2003) Author: J.P. Roux
South African National Biodiversity Institute, Compton Herbarium, Cape Town (SAM)
Reference Sources
Distribution: Rare in Swaziland and currently only known from the Mdzimba and Malandzela hills, occurring at an altitude ranging between 1 150 and 1 220 m. The species is widespread in sub-Saharan Africa and the western Indian Ocean region.
Plants terrestrial or epilithic. Rhizome erect to suberect, to 35 mm long, to 3 mm in diameter, set with roots, crowded persistent stipe bases and scales, scales chartaceus to crustaceous, castaneus, clathrate, sessile, lanceolate, cordate to cordate-imbricate, with scattered filiform outgrowths along the margin of which the apex terminates in an elliptic thin-walled cell, apex terminates in an oblong thin-walled cell, to 8 mm long, to 1 mm wide. Fronds crowded, caespitose, erect to arching, to 510 mm long; stipe firm, castaneus, matt, terete, to 120 mm long, to 1.8 mm in diameter, narrowly green-winged in the upper half, initially moderately set with ferrugineous glandular cells and filiform clathrate scales of which the apex terminates in an enlarged gland-like cell, to 3 mm long, glabrous later; lamina 1-pinnate, narrowly elliptic to oblong-cuneate, to 390 mm long, to 60 mm wide, with up to 36 stalked pinna pairs; rachis firm, castaneus, terete, narrowly green-winged, initially moderately set with scales similar to those on the stipe, glabrous later; pinnae sessile, herbaceous, opposite to alternate, basally more widely spaced than apically, pinnae in the lower half to one third of the lamina gradually reduced, inaequilaterally lanceolate to ovate, often slightly auricled acroscopically, acroscopically truncate to broadly cuneate, basiscopically narrowly to broadly cuneate, dentate, to 30 mm long, to 14 mm wide, glabrous adaxially and abaxially; costa adaxially raised, convex. Venation anadromous, evident, pinnately branched, branches forked, ending in the teeth near the margin. Sori linear, inframedial, usually below or at a vein fork, to 3.5 mm long; indusium chartaceus, stramineous, linear, entire, to 3.5 mm long, to 0.3 mm wide; sporangium long-stalked, uniseriate, 3-seriate below the capsule, capsule globose in lateral view, annulus with (17-)19(-21) indurated annulus cells, epistomium 2-celled, hypostomium (3-)4(-4)-celled. Spores 64 per sporangium, brown, elliptic, monolete, perispore forms broad reticulate wings, exospore (26-)28.8(-38) x (16-)18.5(-24) (m. Figure 48A & B.
Asplenium inaequilaterale Willd. [family ASPLENIACEAE]
Swaziland Ferns and Fern Allies, (2003) Author: J.P. Roux
South African National Biodiversity Institute, Compton Herbarium, Cape Town (SAM)
Reference Sources
Distribution: Frequent in the north-western corner of Swaziland, occurring at altitudes ranging between 500 and 1 250 m. The species is widespread is sub-Saharan Africa and the western Indian Ocean region.
Plants epilithic. Rhizome short, erect to suberect, to 20 mm long, to 4 mm in diameter, set with roots, crowded persistent stipe bases and scales, scales crustaceous, atrocastaneus to black, clathrate, sessile, subulate to lanceolate, cordate to cordate-imbricate, entire or with scattered, pluricellular recurved outgrowths along the margin, apex terminates in a thin-walled cell, to 5 mm long, to 0.7 mm wide. Fronds crowded, caespitose, erect, to 430 mm long; stipe firm, castaneus, matt, terete, to 210 mm long, to 1.6 mm in diameter, narrowly green-winged to the base, base sparsely set with scales similar to those on the rhizome, higher up with filiform clathrate scales terminating in an elliptic thin-walled cell, to 1 mm long, and 3-4-celled hairs terminating in an enlarged obovate thin-walled cell, to 0.3 mm long; lamina 1-pinnate, narrowly elliptic, to 230 mm long, to 68 mm wide, with up to 17 petiolated pinna pairs; rachis firm, castaneus to greenish higher up, shallowly sulcate adaxially, narrowly green-winged, set with filiform scales and hairs similar to those on the stipe, glabrous later; pinnae basal pinnae petiolate, petiole to 1.5 mm long, sessile towards the apex, herbaceous, dark to mid-green, opposite to alternate, basally more widely spaced than apically, often slightly overlapping, basal 2-4 pairs often gradually reduced, inaequilaterally lanceolate to trapezoid, acroscopically truncate, basiscopically excavate, usually alternately shallowly and deeply dentate, to 38 mm long, to 10 mm wide, glabrous adaxially and abaxially; costa adaxially raised, convex. Venation anadromous, evident, pinnately branched, branches forked, ending in the teeth near the margin. Sori linear, usually at or above a vein fork, to 4 mm long; indusium chartaceus, stramineous, transversely narrowly elliptic, entire, to 4 mm long, to 1.2 mm wide; sporangium long-stalked, uniseriate, 3-seriate below the capsule, capsule globose in lateral view, annulus with (19-)19(-22) indurated annulus cells, epistomium (2-)2(-3)-celled, hypostomium (4-)4(-5)-celled. Spores 64 per sporangium, brown, elliptic, monolete, perispore forms broad reticulate wings, erose, the areas between the wings irregularly echinulate, exospore (30-)32.2(-36) x (20-)22.3(-24) (m. Figure 48C & D.
Asplenium lobatum Pappe & Rawson [family ASPLENIACEAE]
Swaziland Ferns and Fern Allies, (2003) Author: J.P. Roux
South African National Biodiversity Institute, Compton Herbarium, Cape Town (SAM)
Reference Sources
Distribution: Rare in Swaziland and currently known from the Malandzela hills only, occurring at an altitude of ±1 220 m. The species appears to be restricted to the eastern parts of south tropical and southern Africa and the western Indian Ocean region.
Plants terrestrial or epilithic. Rhizome erect to suberect, to 20 mm long, to 4 mm in diameter, set with roots, crowded stipe bases and scales, scales chartaceus, atrocastaneus, clathrate, sessile, subulate to narrowly lanceolate, cordate, margins irregularly set with short filiform outgrowths, apex terminates in an oblong thin-walled cell, to 5 mm long, to 0.7 mm wide. Fronds crowded, caespitose, erect to arching, to 475 mm long; stipe firm, castaneus, terete, to 120 mm long, to 1.2 mm in diameter, narrowly green-winged for most of the length, initially moderately set with hairs and scales, subglabrous later, hairs 3-5-celled, clavate, to 0.25 mm long, scales chartaceus, atrocastaneus, clathrate, stalked, subulate to filiform, the larger often with short filiform outgrowths along the margin, apex terminates in an oblong thin-walled cell, to 5 mm long, to 0.7 mm wide; lamina anadromous, 2-pinnate, narrowly elliptic, to 360 mm long, to 85 mm wide, with up to 23 petiolated pinna pairs; rachis firm, castaneus, green towards the apex, terete, narrowly green-winged, sparsely set with hairs and scales similar to those on the stipe, glabrous later; pinnae petiolate, petiole to 1 mm long, opposite to alternate, basally more widely spaced than apically, pinnae in the lower half gradually reduced, ovate to narrowly ovate, to 45 mm long, to 16 mm wide, with up to 5 pinnule pairs; pinna-rachis terete, narrowly winged, glabrous; pinnules herbaceous, sessile, rhombic to flabellate, coarsely serrate or divided into 2-fid or 3-fid lobes, lobe apices entire or shallowly repand to erose, to 12 mm long, to 10 mm wide, glabrous adaxially and abaxially. Venation anadromous, evident, flabellately forked, ending in the teeth near the margin. Sori linear, usually on the terminal vein branches, but often also at a fork, to 3.5 mm long; indusium chartaceus, stramineous, linear, entire, to 3.5 mm long, to 0.3 mm wide; sporangium long-stalked, uniseriate, 3-seriate below the capsule, capsule globose to broadly elliptic in lateral view, annulus with (17-)19(-19) indurated annulus cells, epistomium 2-celled, hypostomium 4-celled. Spores 64 per sporangium, brown, elliptic, monolete, perispore forms broad reticulate wings, exospore (28-)31.3(-34) x (18-)20.1(-22) (m. Figure 48E & F.
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