Crepidomanes melanotrichum (Schltdl.) J.P. Roux

Selected images: Click on each image to see a larger version and details of the record View all images (3)

Photo: Petra Ballings
SRGH

Detailed records: Display species records QDS maps by: Google Maps Point records by Google Maps

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

Synonyms:	Trichomanes melanotrichum Schltdl. Trichomanes pyxidiferum sensu Sim Trichomanes pyxidiferum L. var. melanotrichum (Schltdl.) Schelpe Vandenboschia melanotricha (Schltdl.) Pic.Serm.
Common names:
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Rhizome filiform, widely creeping, rhizome hairs unbranched, shiny black. Fronds up to 3 cm apart. Stipe 5-35 mm long, winged in upper half, continuing basally as a pronounced rib along which are set 2 rows of black, articulated hairs which frequently break off, leaving a short black stub. Lamina variable, 8-75 × 8-30 mm, 2- or 3-pinnatifid; ultimate lobes narrowly oblong, entire, c. 0.7 mm broad, when dry usually with a vein-like fold between the margin and the vein. Sori obconical, c. 1.5 × 1 mm, narrowly winged for most of their length, valves rounded, entire.
Notes:	Can be confused with C. inopinatum: C. melanotrichum has a stipe that is narrowly winged throughout (only in the upper quarter to half in C. inopinatum) and that has black articulated hairs or leftover stubs (absent or few brown in C. inopinatum). The rhizome hairs are shiny black in C. melanotrichum and dark brown to dull black in C. inopinatum. Can be distinguished from P. borbonicum : P. borbonicum has a stipe that is winged in the distal half to three quarters, has no stipe hairs, the drying fold is absent and rhizome hairs are brown. The sorus is twice as long as wide (as long as wide in C. melanotrichum).
Derivation of specific name:	melanotrichum: black hair; this species has distinctive black rhizome hairs
Habitat:	Lithophytic on mossy boulders along streams or epiphytic on lower parts of trees in shaded evergreen forest.
Altitude range: (metres)	0 - 2000 m (approx)
Worldwide distribution:	Eastern southern Africa, central and tropical Africa, Madagascar and Mascarenes.
Zimbabwe distribution:	E
Growth form(s):	Epiphyte, lithophyte.
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. Pages 92 - 93. (Includes a picture). Burrows, J.E. & Burrows, S.M. (1993). An annotated check-list of the pteridophytes of Malawi Kirkia 14(1) Page 84. Burrows, J.E. & Willis, C.K. (eds) (2005). Plants of the Nyika Plateau Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 31 SABONET, Pretoria Page 31. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 56. As Trichomanes melanotrichum Crouch, N.R., Klopper, R.R., Burrows, J.E. & Burrows, S.M. (2011). Ferns of Southern Africa, A comprehensive guide Struik Nature Pages 156 - 157. (Includes a picture). Da Silva, M.C., Izidine, S. & Amude, A.B. (2004). A preliminary checklist of the vascular plants of Mozambique. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 30 Sabonet, Pretoria Page 11. Dowsett-Lemaire, F. (1989). The flora and phytogeography of the evergreen forests of Malawi. I: Afromontane and mid-altitude forests; Bull. Jard. Bot. Nat. Belg. 59(1/2) Page 26. As Trichomanes pyxidiferum Jacobsen, W.B.G. (1983). The Ferns and Fern Allies of Southern Africa. Butterworths, Durban and Pretoria. Pages 188 - 189. (Includes a picture). Kornas, J. (1979). Distribution and ecology of the Pteridophytes in Zambia Polska Akademia Nauk Wydzial II Nauk Biologicznych Pages 72 - 73. As Trichomanes pyxidiferum var. melanotrichum 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 7. Roux, J.P. (2001). Conspectus of Southern African Pteridophyta. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report 13 Page 46. (Includes a picture). Roux, J.P. (2009). Synopsis of the Lycopodiophyta and Pteridophyta of Africa, Madagascar and neighbouring islands Page 40. Schelpe, E.A.C.L.E. (1970). Pteridophyta Flora Zambesiaca Pages 76 - 78. (Includes a picture). Wursten, B., Timberlake, J. & Darbyshire, I. (2017). The Chimanimani Mountains: an updated checklist. Kirkia 19(1) Page 78.

Other sources of information about Crepidomanes melanotrichum:

Our websites:

Flora of Burundi: Crepidomanes melanotrichum
Flora of Malawi: Crepidomanes melanotrichum
Flora of Mozambique: Crepidomanes melanotrichum
Flora of Rwanda: Crepidomanes melanotrichum
Flora of Zambia: Crepidomanes melanotrichum

External websites:

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