Dicranopteris linearis (Burm. f.) Underw.

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Photo: Petra Ballings
Vumba, Jevington road

Photo: Bart Wursten
Aberfoyle, Honde Valley

Photo: Petra Ballings
Stapleford, John Meikle Reseach Station

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

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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
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	Widespread in tropical Africa, Madagascar region and pantropical.
Zimbabwe distribution:	N,E,S
Growth form:
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects (whose larvae eat this species):
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated:	Thursday 8 December 2011
Literature:	Burrows, J.E. (1990). Southern African Ferns and Fern Allies. Frandsen, Sandton. Page 54. (Includes a picture). 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). 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 FZ Pages 50 - 52. (Includes a picture).

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Other sources of information about Dicranopteris linearis:

Flora of Mozambique: Dicranopteris linearis
Biodiversity Explorer (Biodiversity of southern Africa): Dicranopteris linearis
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Dicranopteris linearis
ePIC (electronic Plant Information Center): Dicranopteris linearis
Flora Zambesiaca web site: Dicranopteris linearis
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
GRIN (Germplasm Resources Information Network) taxonomy for plants report for Dicranopteris linearis
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Dicranopteris linearis
JSTOR Plant Science: Dicranopteris linearis
Kew Herbarium catalogue: Dicranopteris linearis
Tropicos: Dicranopteris linearis
West African Plants database: Dicranopteris linearis