| Home | > | List of families | > | Dryopteridaceae | > | Polystichum | > | monticola |
| Synonyms: | |
| Common names: | |
| Frequency: | |
| Status: | Native |
| Description: |
Rhizome creeping, c. 15 mm in diameter, with persistent stipe bases; rhizome scales up to 10 mm long, laciniate, rust-coloured, concolorous or with chestnut stripes, lanceolate. Fronds tufted at the apex of the rhizome, arching, herbaceous to thinly coriaceous. Stipe green to pale-brown, with rust-coloured scales, becoming subglabrous with age except for a tuft of scales basally. Lamina ovate-truncate in outline, 2-pinnate to 3-pinnatifid, with basal pinnae only slightly reduced, up to 35 × 14 cm. Pinnae narrowly ovate, attenuate. Pinnules narrowly ovate, margins serrate-aristate but aristae not prominent, upper surface hairless, lower surface with occasional hair-like scales. Rhachis and secondary rhachis set with rust-coloured scales. Sori round, up to 1.5 mm in diameter; indusia membranous, erose, c. 1 mm in diameter. |
| Notes: | |
| Derivation of specific name: | monticola: mountain-loving, this is a fern that favours high altitudes. |
| Habitat: | Only known from an isolated record in Zimbabwe. Otherwise among boulders, at base of cliffs, sometimes not far from streams in montane grassland, scrubs or fynbos; also forest margins and floors. |
| Altitude range: (metres) | 600 - 2590 m |
| Worldwide distribution: | Lesotho, South Africa, Zimbabwe |
| Zimbabwe distribution: | W |
| Growth form(s): | Lithophyte, 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. Page 314. (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 458 - 459. (Includes a picture). Roux, J.P. (2001). Conspectus of Southern African Pteridophyta. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report 13 Page 129. Roux, J.P. (2009). Synopsis of the Lycopodiophyta and Pteridophyta of Africa, Madagascar and neighbouring islands Page 138. |
| Home | > | List of families | > | Dryopteridaceae | > | Polystichum | > | monticola |