Compilation
Schizaea dichotoma

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Name

Identification
Schizaea dichotoma (L.)J.E.Sm. [family PTERIDOPHYTA ]
Related name
  • Schizaea dichotoma

Flora

Entry for SCHIZAEA dichotoma (L.) Sw. [family SCHIZAEACEAE]
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, (2000) Author: B. VERDCOURT, B.Sc., Ph.D.
Names
SCHIZAEA dichotoma (L.) Sw. [family SCHIZAEACEAE], in J. Bot. (Schrader) 1800, 2: 102 (1801); Reimers in N.B.G.B. 11: 395 (1932); Tardieu, Fl. Madag. 8: 2 (1952); Holttum, Fl. Malaya 2, Ferns: 50, fig. 6 (1955; ed. 2, 1968); Pócs in Boissiera 24b: 491 adnot. (1976); Lovett in Fern Gaz. 13: 119 (1986). Type: “China” (actually Cochinchina), Petiver, Gazophylacium 2, t. 70/12 (1709)
Acrostichum dichotomum L. [family PTERIDACEAE], Sp. Pl.: 1068 (1753); Sm. in Mém. Acad. Roy. Sci. (Turin) 5: 422, t. 9 (1793)
Information
Rhizome creeping, its apical part covered with thick flaccid medium brown hairs ± 3 mm long, each consisting of a few long cells. Fronds very close together, 2–8 times dichotomously branched, the main basal branches resembling the stipes, the upper smaller ones gradually changing into narrow blades by widening of the wings and reduction of the costa; ultimate lobes 1–1.5 mm wide; stipes 25–50 cm long, sparsely hairy towards the base, narrowly winged towards the apex. Fertile lobes in small groups pinnately arranged at the apices of the terminal pinnules in about 5–10 pairs, the lowest 3–4 mm long; sporangia in two rows on each lobe mixed with conspicuous long brown hairs.
Range
DISTR. T 3, 7 Madagascar, Mascarenes, India to Indochina, Malesia from Sumatra to New Guinea, Australia, New Zealand and S and W Pacific Is.
Altitude range
1050–1200 m
Distribution
TANZANIA Pare District S Pare Mts, Gonja, Mgambo Forest, 31 Aug. 1982, Kibuwa 5547!;TANZANIA Iringa District Uzungwa Mts, Sanje, 29 Nov. 1983, Lovett 224! & above Sanje Village, Mwanihana Forest Reserve, 22 Sept. 1984, D.W. Thomas 3699! & Sanje Lodge Camp, 5 Jan. 1981, Stuart & Rogers 838!
Notes
Apparently unknown from continental Africa before 1931 when Schlieben collected it at Lupembe. Very variable, much of the Asiatic material being more regularly radiate than that from Madagascar, Mascarenes and mainland Africa. Holttum (1955) specifically comments on the variation in Malaya mentioning that specimens only 2–3-branched occur together with richly branched specimens, all of them fertile, and that no clear cut distinction can be made between them. Sir J.E. Smith has usually been accepted as the author of new combinations in his genus Schizaea but this is not so. He lists the species under previous names as examples of what belongs in his new genus, but combinations are not actually made.

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