Compilation
Polypodium speluncae

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Name

Identification
Polypodium speluncae L. [family DENNSTAEDTIACEAE ] (stored under name); Microlepia speluncae (L.) T.Moore [family DENNSTAEDTIACEAE ] Verified by Henry Trimen,
Related name
  • Microlepia speluncae
  • Polypodium speluncae

Flora

Entry for MICROLEPIA speluncae (L.) Moore [family DENNSTAEDTIACEAE]
Herbarium
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (K)
Collection
Flora of Tropical East Africa
Resource Type
Reference Sources
Entry From
Flora of Tropical East Africa, page 1, (1999) Author: B. Verdcourt, B.Sc., Ph.D.
Names
MICROLEPIA speluncae (L.) Moore [family DENNSTAEDTIACEAE], Ind. Fil. 1: 93 (1857); Kuhn, Fil. Afr.: 159 (1868); Hieron. in P.O.A. C: 77 (1895); V.E. 2: 21, fig. 18 (1908); Sim, Ferns S. Afr., ed. 2: 129, t. 38 (1915); F.D.-O.A.: 66 (1929); Tardieu in Mém. I.F.A.N. 28: 58, t. 7/3–5 (1953) & Fl. Madag. 5(1): 9 (1958); Alston, Ferns W.T.A.: 33 (1959); Tardieu, Fl. Cameroun 3, Ptérid.: 94, tt. 11/3–5, 15/3–5 (1964) & Fl. Gabon 8, Ptérid.: 68, t. 11/3–5 (1964); Schelpe, F.Z., Pterid.: 89, t. 27 (1970) & Expl. Hydrobiol. Bassin L. Bangweolo & Luapula, 8(3), Ptérid.: 49, fig. 17 (1973) & C.F.A., Pterid.: 75, t. 13 (1977); Schelpe & Diniz, Fl. Moçamb., Pterid.: 91, t. 8 (1979); W. Jacobsen, Ferns S. Afr.: 210, fig. 147, map 45 (1983); Pic. Serm. in B.J.B.B. 53: 258 (1983); Schelpe & N.C. Anthony, F.S.A., Pterid.: 85, fig. 24, map 68 (1986); Benl, Pterid. Bioko 4, in Acta Bot. Barcinon. 38: 23 (1988); J.E. Burrows, S. Afr. Ferns: 106, t. 16/4, fig. 23/106, map (1990); Faden in U.K.W.F., ed. 2: 24 (1994). Type: Sri Lanka, Herman (BM-HERM, vol. 3, fol. 41!, lecto.)
Polypodium speluncae L. [family POLYPODIACEAE], Sp. Pl., ed.1: 1093 (1753)
Davallia speluncae (L.) Baker [family DAVALLIACEAE], in Hook. & Baker, Syn. Fil.: 100 (1867)
Information
Terrestrial fern; rhizome much branched, ± 1 cm diameter, multicellular hairs pale, up to 4 mm long; fronds spaced up to 6 cm apart, (0.45–)1.5–3 m tall; stipe 0.2–1 m long and 6 mm wide, at first pubescent, later glabrous; lamina thin, yellow-green, ovate, 0.4–1.8 m long, 0.1–1.4 m wide, 3–4(–5)- pinnatifid; pinnae alternate, narrowly oblong to oblong-lanceolate, up to 60 cm long and 21 cm wide, 2–3-pinnate to 2–3-pinnatifid, acute; pinnules alternate, up to 13 cm long and 6 cm wide; ultimate segments oblong, 4–12 mm long, 3–4 mm wide, crenate to pinnatifid, obtuse, thinly to fairly densely pubescent above and below with pale multicellular hairs up to 0.4 mm long; rachis thinly pubescent with minute hairs, eventually glabrous. Sori 2–10(–20) per segment, clearly intramarginal, round, 1 mm diameter, situated beneath on a vein ending which shows as a usually conspicuous hydathode on the upper surface; indusium often caducous, often pubescent-hispid. Fig. 1.
Range
DISTR. U 2, 4; K ?3, 5–7; T 3, 4, 6, 7 throughout tropical Africa to S & SW Africa and widespread throughout the tropics
Altitude range
(350–)700–1650(–1850) m
Distribution
UGANDA Toro District Bwamba, Kabango, 21 Nov. 1935, A.S. Thomas 1501!;KENYA North Kavirondo District Malava [Kabras] Forest, W side of Kakamega–Broderick Falls road, 26 Nov. 1969, Faden 69/2036! & Kakamega Forest, along Yala R. about 5 km SE of Forest Station, 25 Nov. 1969, Faden et al. 69/2011!;TANZANIA Lushoto District Amani, Mt Bomole, 14 Oct. 1928, Greenway 889!;UGANDA Masaka District Sese Is., Towa Forest, 30 June 1935, A.S. Thomas 1355!;UGANDA Mengo District 16 km on Entebbe road (from Kampala), June 1937, Chandler 1681!KENYA Masai District foot of Ngulia Hills, near stream pool, 28 Aug. 1969, Bally 13470!TANZANIA Ufipa District Sumbawanga, Chapota, 7 Mar. 1957, Richards 8534!;TANZANIA Iringa District Mwanihana Forest Reserve, above Sanje village, 10 Oct. 1984, D.W. Thomas 3932!
Notes
When growing in rocky places, crevices etc. it can be much smaller e.g. Verdcourt 57 & 58 (Lushoto District, R. Dodwe by Amani to Monga road crossing, 23 Jan. 1950). Several varieties have been described from Asia including var. villosissima C. Chr. with varying degrees of indumentum but I have considered the East African material typical and am not sure of the validity of these varieties. The lectotype is rather sparsely pilose. Material I have seen from K 3 has been wrongly identified, and was not this species. The lowest altitude and K7 record are based on a sterile young specimen (Kwale District: Shimba Hills, Mwele-Mdogo, 12 Sept. 1997, Luke et al. 4724!)

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