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Synonyms: |
Christella hilsenbergii (C.Presl) Holttum Cyclosorus contigua Rosenst. Thelypteris hispidula (Decne.) Reed Thelypteris quadrangularis (Fée) Schelpe |
Common names: | |
Frequency: | Rare |
Status: | Native |
Description: |
Rhizome erect or inclining, c.20 mm in diameter; rhizome scales up to 6 mm long, dark brown, lanceolate, often thinly pilose. Fronds tufted, arching, not proliferous, herbaceous. Stipe up to 40 cm long, pale brown, thinly set with minute stiff hairs. Lamina up to 59 × 30 cm, ovate to broadly lanceolate in outline, deeply 2-pinnatifid, apex tapering to a point with a pinnatifid terminal segment, basal 2 pairs of pinnae slightly reduced and deflexed. Pinnae linear-oblong, apex tapering to a point; ultimate lobes narrowly oblong, slightly falcate, apex rounded, basal acroscopic lobe enlarged; both surfaces with long, white hairs, more so below, particularly along the veins, costae and costules; veins 1 pair meeting some way below the sinus. Rhachis set with long pale hairs. Sori round, up to 13 per lobe; indusia coriaceous, thickly set with long white hairs. |
Notes: | Christella hispidula resembles C. dentata but the latter has 1 pair of veins meeting below the sinus and a single vein joining in the sinus and a clearly creeping rhizome.
C. hispidula look for: 1 pair of veins meeting below the sinus, 1 or 2 pairs of slightly reduced pinnae and an erect to inclining rhizome. |
Derivation of specific name: | hispidula: minutely rough with stiff hairs (hispidulous) |
Habitat: | Terrestrial on forest floor away from water or along streambanks in forests, always in deep shade. |
Altitude range: (metres) | 400 - 1500 m |
Worldwide distribution: | From southern Africa & northern Eswatini to southeastern border of Zimbabwe and mountainous regions in Mozambique; also in most of tropical Africa, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, east tropical Asia and tropical South America. |
Zimbabwe distribution: | E |
Growth form(s): | Terrestrial. |
Endemic status: | |
Red data list status: | |
Insects associated with this species: | |
Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
Literature: |
Burrows, J.E. (1990). Southern African Ferns and Fern Allies. Frandsen, Sandton. Pages 264 - 265. As Thelypteris hispidula (Includes a picture). Burrows, J.E. & Burrows, S.M. (1993). An annotated check-list of the pteridophytes of Malawi Kirkia 14(1) Page 95. Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 55. As Thelypteris hispidula Crouch, N.R., Klopper, R.R., Burrows, J.E. & Burrows, S.M. (2011). Ferns of Southern Africa, A comprehensive guide Struik Nature Pages 688 - 689. (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 15. Dowsett-Lemaire, F. (1989). The flora and phytogeography of the evergreen forests of Malawi. I: Afromontane and mid-altitude forests; Bull. Jard. Bot. Nat. Belg. 59(1/2) Page 26. As Thelypteris quadrangularis Jacobsen, W.B.G. (1983). The Ferns and Fern Allies of Southern Africa. Butterworths, Durban and Pretoria. Pages 387 - 388. As Christella hilsenbergii (Includes a picture). Kornas, J. (1979). Distribution and ecology of the Pteridophytes in Zambia Polska Akademia Nauk Wydzial II Nauk Biologicznych Pages 92 - 93. As Thelypteris quadrangularis 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 10. Roux, J.P. (2001). Conspectus of Southern African Pteridophyta. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report 13 Page 120. Roux, J.P. (2009). Synopsis of the Lycopodiophyta and Pteridophyta of Africa, Madagascar and neighbouring islands Page 203. Schelpe, E.A.C.L.E. (1970). Pteridophyta Flora Zambesiaca Pages 195 - 196. As Thelypteris quadrangularis |
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