Pityrogramma calomelanos (L.) Link
var. aureoflava (Hook.) Weath. ex L.H. Bailey

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Pityrogramma calomelanos var. aureoflava

Photo: Petra Ballings
Mount Buchwa, road from tunnel to lake filled open mine

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Synonyms:	Ceropteris calomelanos sensu Sim Gymnogramma calomelanos (L.) Kaulf. var. aureoflava Hook.
Common names:
Frequency:	Rare
Status:
Description:	Rhizome erect to shortly creeping, up to 10 mm in diameter; scales light brown, linear, up to 4 mm long, margins entire. Fronds tufted, arching, firmly herbaceous. Stipe 6-36 cm long, black to chestnut brown, shiny smooth with few scales at the base. Lamina 14-37 × 7-14 cm, ovate to lanceolate in outline, 2- to 3-pinnatifid, long tapering to the apex. Pinnae oblong-lanceolate to narrowly lanceolate, pinnatifid to varying degree, apices acute, margins shallowly toothed and inrolled in dried material, dark green above and covered with a yellow powder below, glabrous on both surfaces. Rhachis black to chestnut brown, shiny, glabrous. Sori about 3 mm long, situated along the veins in the outer half of the lamina between the costule and margin, often difficult to see because of the yellow powder; exindusiate.
Notes:	First record for Zimbabwe!!! Could be confused with P. argentea but the latter has more delicate and more divided (3- or 4-pinnatifid, broadly ovate to triangular fronds.
Derivation of specific name:	calomelanos: beautifully black, referring to the colour of stipe and rhachis; aureoflava: golden yellow, the undersides of the lamina are covered with yellow powder.
Habitat:	In crack of rocks of artificial cliff caused by old mining activity, in full sun
Altitude range: (metres)	1389 m (approx)
Worldwide distribution:	Native of South and Central America but naturalised in DRC, South Africa, Eswatini, Zambia, Comoro Islands, Mauritius, Australia. Now also found in Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe distribution:	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:	Friday 9 May 2014
Literature:	Burrows, J.E. (1990). Southern African Ferns and Fern Allies. Frandsen, Sandton. Pages 116 - 117. (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 314 - 315. (Includes a picture). Jacobsen, W.B.G. (1983). The Ferns and Fern Allies of Southern Africa. Butterworths, Durban and Pretoria. Pages 222 - 223. Kornas, J. (1979). Distribution and ecology of the Pteridophytes in Zambia Polska Akademia Nauk Wydzial II Nauk Biologicznych Pages 61 - 62. Roux, J.P. (2001). Conspectus of Southern African Pteridophyta. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report 13 Page 57. Roux, J.P. (2009). Synopsis of the Lycopodiophyta and Pteridophyta of Africa, Madagascar and neighbouring islands Pages 177 - 178. Schelpe, E.A.C.L.E. (1970). Pteridophyta Flora Zambesiaca Pages 107 - 108.

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Flora of Zambia: Pityrogramma calomelanos var. aureoflava

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