Entry for NOTHOLAENA marantae subsp. marantae [family ADIANTACEAE]
Entry From
Flora of Tropical East Africa, page 1, (2002) Author: BERNARD VERDCOURT
Names
NOTHOLAENA marantae subsp. marantae [family ADIANTACEAE], ; Muñoz Garmandia in Fl. Iberica 1: 51, t. 17 (1986)
Acrostichum marantae L. [family PTERIDACEAE], Sp. Pl.: 107 (1753)
Cheilanthes marantae (L.) Domin [family ADIANTACEAE], in Biblioth. Bot. 20 (85): 133 adnot. 1 (1915); H.P. Fuchs in Br. Fern Gaz. 9: 42 (1961); Henderson in Fl. Turkey 1: 42 (1965); Schelpe in Contr. Bolus Herb. 1: 73 (1969); Greuter et al., Med. Checklist 1: 14 (1984); Parris in Meikle, Fl. Cyprus (2): 1880, t. 105 (1985)
Gymnopteris marantae (L.) Ching [family ], in Acta Phytotax. Sinica 10: 303 (1965)
Paraceterach marantae (L.) R.M. Tryon [family ADIANTACEAE], in Amer. Fern J. 76: 186 (1986)
Distribution
KENYA Northern Frontier District Mt Nyiru, along track from Tuum on W side over mountain to South Horr, 29 Oct. 1978, Gilbert et al. 5194 & Ol Doinyo Nyira, 13 Dec. 1972, J.B.C. Cameron 148TANZANIA Njombe District E Livingstone Mts, Tsausingwe area, 29 Mar. 1899, Goetze 813
Notes
Kunkel maintains a subsp. subcordata (Cav.) Kunkel from Macronesia (Cuad. Bot. Canaria 5: 46 (1969)); see also Gibby & Paul in Press & Short, Fl. Madeira: 33–34, t. 1 (1994). This is a larger plant with usually more pinnae and pinnules than subsp. marantae .The typification of the genus Notholaena has been discussed in detail by Pichi Sermolli (Webbia 37: 112–113 (1983)). Although J. Smith chose Pteris trichomanoides as type (lectotype) in 1875, Pichi Sermolli argues this should be set aside and Acrostichum marantae L. chosen. Many recent workers have followed this. R.M. & A.F. Tryon have strongly argued that Smith’s typification should be retained and tried to conserve this view but the proposal was not carried (see Taxon 29: 160–161 (1980) and 30: 162–163 (1981)). This view has been maintained (R.M. Tryon in Amer. Fern J. 76: 186 (1986) and in Kubitzki, Fam. Gen. Vasc. Pl.: 244 (1990); R. M. Tryon & Stolze in Fieldiana NS. 22: 37 (1989)) which results in Notholaena being restricted to America for 30–40 species. Bostock et al. in Fl. Austr. 48: 264 (1998) follow this, and it is clear that the two interpretations will persist for a long time so it is necessary to clarify this situation to puzzled users.Peter (F.D.-O.A.: 40 (1929)) gives a locality for this species in Tanzania, Ubena: Ldschft. Tsausingwe 2100 m; this is in T 7 Njombe District. No specimen is cited but Goetze collected there and knowing this I traced Hieronymus’ original record. No one else except Johns (Pterid. Trop. E. Afr.: 17 (1991)) has noticed this record. Being such a distinct species it is difficult to suggest what could have been mistaken for it.