Acrostichum aureum L.

All images: Click on each image to see a larger version and details of the record View selected images

Acrostichum aureum

Photo: Petra Ballings
Chisekera Springs, Chiredze

Acrostichum aureum

Photo: Petra Ballings
Chisekera Springs, Chiredze

Acrostichum aureum

Photo: Petra Ballings
Chisekera Springs, Chiredze

Acrostichum aureum

Photo: Petra Ballings
Chisekera Springs, Chiredze

Acrostichum aureum

Photo: Petra Ballings
Chisekera Springs, Chiredze

Acrostichum aureum

Photo: Petra Ballings
Chisekera Springs, Chiredze

Acrostichum aureum

Photo: Petra Ballings
Chisekera Springs, Chiredze

Acrostichum aureum

Photo: Jonathan Retzlaff
Goruvo Wetlands, Vilanculos.

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: Acrostichum guineense Gand.
Acrostichum inaequale Willd.
Chrysodium aureum (L.) Mett.
Common names:
Frequency:
Status: Native
Description:
Plants in colonies or large isolated clumps. Rhizome erect to procumbent, massive, c. 6 mm in diameter; rhizome scales hard, up to 20 mm long, dark brown, linear-lanceolate in outline, margins irregular to lacerate. Fronds erect to arching, tufted, coriaceous, up to 2.5 m long. Stipe brown, up to 0.8 m long (up to 1/3 of total frond length). Lamina pinnate with a free conform terminal pinna, roughly lanceolate in outline. Sterile pinnae petiolate, glabrous, linear to oblong-lanceolate in outline, margin entire to wavy, apex rounded to bluntly pointed, base unequally wedge-shaped, usually directed forward at about 45° from the rhachis and facing upwards; midrib prominent on lower surface; venation visible on upper surface with areoles. Fertile pinnae similar in size and shape to sterile pinnae, or sometimes slightly smaller, undersurface entirely covered with sori.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name: aureum: golden, possibly referring to the golden-brown colour of the ripening sporangia in our specimens.
Habitat: Mostly in coastal mudflats, mangrove forest and reedbeds, in or near estuaries, at inland springs, exposed or lightly shaded.
In south-eastern Zimbabwe it was recorded next to some hot springs, in peatlike soil with salt efflorescences.
Altitude range: (metres) 550 m (approx)
Worldwide distribution: pantropical
Zimbabwe distribution: S
Growth form(s): Terrestrial.
Endemic status:
Red data list status: Critically Endangered
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters: Display spot characters for this species
Images last updated: Tuesday 3 February 2015
Literature:

Burrows, J.E. (1990). Southern African Ferns and Fern Allies. Frandsen, Sandton. Page 114. (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 298 - 299. (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 13.

Golding, J.S. (ed.) (2002). Zimbabwe Plant Red Data List. Southern African Plant Red Data Lists. SABONET 14 Page 168.

Jacobsen, W.B.G. (1983). The Ferns and Fern Allies of Southern Africa. Butterworths, Durban and Pretoria. Pages 219 - 220. (Includes a picture).

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 9.

Roux, J.P. (2001). Conspectus of Southern African Pteridophyta. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report 13 Pages 81 - 82. (Includes a picture).

Roux, J.P. (2009). Synopsis of the Lycopodiophyta and Pteridophyta of Africa, Madagascar and neighbouring islands Page 150.

Schelpe, E.A.C.L.E. (1970). Pteridophyta Flora Zambesiaca Page 99. (Includes a picture).

Siebert, S. & Mössmer, M. (Editors) (2002). SABONET Southern Mozambique Expedition 2001; Provisional Plant Checklist of the Maputo Elephant Reserve (MER) and Licuati Forest Reserve (LFR) SABONET News 7(1) Page 28.


Other sources of information about Acrostichum aureum:

Our websites:

Flora of Mozambique: Acrostichum aureum

External websites:

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


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: Acrostichum aureum.
https://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=101170, retrieved 28 March 2024

Site software last modified: 26 March 2018 2:01pm (GMT +2)
Terms of use