Cheilanthes pentagona Schelpe & N.C. Anthony

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Cheilanthes pentagona

Photo: Petra Ballings
Kopje tops, Mavhuradonha Wilderness Area

Cheilanthes pentagona

Photo: Petra Ballings
Kopje tops, Mavhuradonha Wilderness Area

Cheilanthes pentagona

Photo: Petra Ballings
Kopje tops, Mavhuradonha Wilderness Area

Cheilanthes pentagona

Photo: Petra Ballings
Kopje tops, Mavhuradonha Wilderness Area

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Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)

Synonyms:
Common names:
Frequency:
Status: Native
Description:
Rhizome creeping, up to 3 mm in diameter; rhizome scales reddish brown with dark central stripe, lanceolate in outline, margin entire. Fronds closely spaced, erect, herbaceous to coriaceous, grey to midgreen. Stipe dark brown to almost black, up to 15 cm long, glabrous but with few brown scales at the base. Lamina 3.5-11 cm × 3.5-11 cm, strongly pentagonal in outline, 3-pinnatifid to 4-pinnatifid on the basal pinnae; lowest pinnae basiscopically developed. Pinnae with venation apparent on both surfaces, both surfaces glabrous, margins wavy to shallowly lobed. Rhachis very dark brown to almost black, hairless, shiny. Sori small, marginal, discrete; indusium small, discontinuous, pale, subentire to erose, membranous.
Notes: Could be confused with C. bergiana or mostly with C. multifida. C. bergiana is lightly hairy, has underground stolons and is a forest species. C. multifida differs in having brown rhizome scales, a lamina that is more dissected (3- to 5-pinnatifid), broadly ovate-deltate in outline and with obscure venation.
Derivation of specific name: pentagona: having 5 angles, referring to the pentagonal outline of the fronds.
Habitat: At the base of rocks and in crevices or in full sun, on serpentine.
Altitude range: (metres) 900 - 1200 m
Worldwide distribution: Angola, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe distribution: N
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: Saturday 24 August 2013
Literature:

Burrows, J.E. (1990). Southern African Ferns and Fern Allies. Frandsen, Sandton. Pages 152 - 154. (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 404 - 405. (Includes a picture).

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 9.

Roux, J.P. (2001). Conspectus of Southern African Pteridophyta. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report 13 Page 65.

Roux, J.P. (2009). Synopsis of the Lycopodiophyta and Pteridophyta of Africa, Madagascar and neighbouring islands Page 184.


Other sources of information about Cheilanthes pentagona:

External websites:

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


Copyright: Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Meg Coates Palgrave, 2002-24

Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2024). Flora of Zimbabwe: Species information: Cheilanthes pentagona.
https://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=100820, retrieved 16 April 2024

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