Dicranopteris linearis (Burm. f.) Underw.

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Dicranopteris linearis

Photo: Petra Ballings
Vumba, Jevington road

Dicranopteris linearis

Photo: Bart Wursten
Aberfoyle, Honde Valley

Dicranopteris linearis

Photo: Petra Ballings
Stapleford, John Meikle Reseach Station

Dicranopteris linearis

Photo: Petra Ballings
Road from Mt Selinda to Espungabera border post

Dicranopteris linearis

Photo: Petra Ballings
Road from Mt Selinda to Espungabera border post

Dicranopteris linearis

Photo: Petra Ballings
Road from Mt Selinda to Espungabera border post

Dicranopteris linearis

Photo: Petra Ballings
Road from Mt Selinda to Espungabera border post

Detailed records: Display species records QDS maps by: Google Maps Point records by Google Maps

Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)

Synonyms: Gleichenia linearis (Burm.f.) C.B.Clarke
Mertensia linearis (Burm.f.) Fritsch
Polypodium linearis Burm.f.
Common names:
Frequency:
Status: Native
Description:
Rhizome widely creeping, glabrous at maturity. Fronds spaced apart. Stipe up to 1 m long, golden brown, glabrous. Lamina 2-3 times dichotomously divided with a pair of reduced pinnae present at each fork of the divisions; pinnae narrowly lanceolate, deeply pinnatifid. Pinnule lobes 15-30 × 4 mm, linear-oblong, glabrous on both surfaces, borne only on the ultimate branches, the other axes naked. Sori subcircular, c. 1 mm in diameter, arranged in two rows along the midrib of the pinnule lobes; exindusiate.
Notes: Differs from Sticherus umbraculiferus by having pinnules only on the distal lamina axes; differs from Gleichenia polypodioides by having superficial sori that are not sunken into the lamina and pinnules that are linear.
Derivation of specific name: linearis: linear, referring to the long pinnules.
Habitat: Along moist streambanks, forest margins and roadsides, in light shade or exposed.
Altitude range: (metres) Up to 2000 m
Worldwide distribution: Widespread in tropical Africa, Madagascar region and pantropical.
Zimbabwe distribution: N,E,S
Growth form(s): Lithophyte, terrestrial.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters: Display spot characters for this species
Images last updated: Thursday 8 December 2011
Literature:

Burrows, J.E. (1990). Southern African Ferns and Fern Allies. Frandsen, Sandton. Page 54. (Includes a picture).

Burrows, J.E. & Burrows, S.M. (1993). An annotated check-list of the pteridophytes of Malawi Kirkia 14(1) Page 82. As Dicranopteris linearis (Kunze) Moore

Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 20.

Crouch, N.R., Klopper, R.R., Burrows, J.E. & Burrows, S.M. (2011). Ferns of Southern Africa, A comprehensive guide Struik Nature Pages 172 - 173. (Includes a picture).

Da Silva, M.C., Izidine, S. & Amude, A.B. (2004). A preliminary checklist of the vascular plants of Mozambique. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 30 Sabonet, Pretoria Page 11. As Dicranopteris linearis linearis

Jacobsen, W.B.G. (1983). The Ferns and Fern Allies of Southern Africa. Butterworths, Durban and Pretoria. Pages 184 - 185. (Includes a picture).

Kornas, J. (1979). Distribution and ecology of the Pteridophytes in Zambia Polska Akademia Nauk Wydzial II Nauk Biologicznych Pages 74 - 75.

Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 6.

Roux, J.P. (2001). Conspectus of Southern African Pteridophyta. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report 13 Pages 39 - 40. (Includes a picture).

Roux, J.P. (2009). Synopsis of the Lycopodiophyta and Pteridophyta of Africa, Madagascar and neighbouring islands Page 49.

Schelpe, E.A.C.L.E. (1970). Pteridophyta Flora Zambesiaca Pages 50 - 52. (Includes a picture).

Wursten, B., Timberlake, J. & Darbyshire, I. (2017). The Chimanimani Mountains: an updated checklist. Kirkia 19(1) Page 78.


Other sources of information about Dicranopteris linearis:

Our websites:

Flora of Caprivi: cultivated Dicranopteris linearis
Flora of Malawi: Dicranopteris linearis
Flora of Mozambique: Dicranopteris linearis
Flora of Zambia: Dicranopteris linearis

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Dicranopteris linearis
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Dicranopteris linearis
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Dicranopteris linearis
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Dicranopteris linearis
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Dicranopteris linearis
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Dicranopteris linearis
JSTOR Plant Science: Dicranopteris linearis
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Dicranopteris linearis
Plants of the World Online: Dicranopteris linearis
Tropicos: Dicranopteris linearis
Wikipedia: Dicranopteris linearis


Copyright: Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Meg Coates Palgrave, 2002-24

Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2024). Flora of Zimbabwe: Species information: Dicranopteris linearis.
https://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=100430, retrieved 29 March 2024

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