Pteris - Pteridaceae

Pteris mildbraedii Hieron.

Photo: C. Jongkind
Liberia

Photo: C. Jongkind
Liberia

 

 

 

 

Synonyms

Pteris quadriaurita Retz. var. africana Bonap.
Pteris biaurita L. var. africana Bonap.

Common name

Description

Rhizome short, erect; rhizome scales lanceolate to linear in outline, usually dark in the middle, pale at the margins, 3–4 mm long. Fronds tufted, ± 1 m tall. Stipe 50–75 cm long, scaly at the base, quite distinctly to almost imperceptibly spinulose or rough. Lamina bipinnate, oblong to ovale in outline, 40 × 40 cm, with 2–7 pairs of laterale pinnae and terminal resembling but much bigger; pinnae oblanceolate or lanceolate-oblong in outline, 14–40 × 5–12 cm with 14–27 pairs of pinnules; ultimate segments oblong to oblong-lanceolate in outline, apex rounded to subacute, the sterile tips toothed; apical segment triangular-lanceolate, 2–6.5 cm long, 9 mm wide, crenulate at tip; rhachis, costae and costulae not spinulose; veins free in the lobes or with very sparse anastomosis; costal areoles narrow. Sori 1–1.7 cm long, not circling the sinus, almost reaching the top of the lobe.

Notes

This species can be recognized by a 2-pinnate lamina , anastomosing veins, apices of the pinnae lobes not entire and stipe & rhachis without spines.

Derivation

mildbreadii: type specimen was collected by Mildbread in Cameroon.

Habitat

Seasonally moist evergreen forest floors, light shade.

Distribution worldwide

See African distribution.

Distribution in Africa

Benin, Cameroon, Congo, Dem. Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea (incl. Bioko), Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Sudan and South Sudan, Tanzania .

Growth form

Terrestrial.

Literature

  • Roux, J.P. (2001) Conspectus of Southern African Pteridophyta.Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report, 13 Page 81.
  • Roux, J.P. (2009) Synopsis of the Lycopodiophyta and Pteridophyta of Africa, Madagascar and neighbouring islands. Strelitzia 23, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria. Page 174.
  • Tardieu-Blot, M.-L. (1964) Ptéridophytes vol.3.Flore du Cameroun, Pages 165 - 166. (Includes a picture).
  • Thardieu-Blot, M.L. (1964) Ptéridophytes vol.8.Flore du Gabon, Pages 112 - 113.
  • Verdcourt, B. (2002) Pteridaceae.Flora of Tropical East Africa, Pages 14 - 15.
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