Dryopteris inaequalis
| Dryopteris inaequalis | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Division: | Pteridophyta |
| Class: | Pteridopsida |
| Order: | Polypodiales |
| Family: | Dryopteridaceae |
| Genus: | Dryopteris |
| Species: | D. inaequalis |
| Binomial name | |
| Dryopteris inaequalis (Schltdl.) Kuntze | |
Dryopteris inaequalis is an Afrotropical fern species that ranges from tropical and southern Africa to Madagascar.<ref =trop>"Dryopteris inaequalis". Tropicos. EOL. Retrieved 1 July 2013.</ref> It has been recorded in Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and South Africa,[1] where it is present in the Western Cape, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.[2] It is found on forest floors and along forest margins, from middle to high altitudes.[1]
Description
It has a creeping rhizome of up to 3.5 cm in diameter, that bears attenuate pale-brown rhizome-scales of up to 2 cm long.[1] The stipe is up to 80 cm long and is only densely scaled towards its base. The lamina is up to 90 x 33 cm, broadly to narrowly ovate with an acuminate apex with the basal pinnae not reduced, or barely so.[1] The pinnae are up to 33 x 16 cm and form an angle of more than 50º to the rachis. The pinnules are oblong to very narrowly oblong in outline. The rachis becomes glabrous with maturity.[1]
Varieties
- D. inaequalis var. atropaleacea – Tanzania to Zambia. Rhizome and stipe scales black
- D. inaequalis var. inaequalis – Zambia to South Africa. Rhizome and stipe scales brown
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Schelpe, E.A.C.L.E. (1970). "Aspidiaceae". Flora Zambesiaca 0 (0).
- ↑ "Dryopteris inaequalis (Schltdl.) Kuntze". Red List of South African Plants. SANBI. Retrieved 1 July 2013.