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Pityrogramma argentea
Selected images: Click on each image to see a larger version and details of the record View all images (8)
Photo: Petra Ballings
Opposite slope above valley below Mt Pheza, Chimanimani Mts
Photo: Petra Ballings
Opposite slope above valley below Mt Pheza, Chimanimani Mts
Photo: Petra Ballings
Opposite slope above valley below Mt Pheza, Chimanimani Mts
Photo: Petra Ballings
Opposite slope above valley below Mt Pheza, Chimanimani Mts
Photo: Petra Ballings
Slopes towards Mt Nhamudimu, Chimanimani Mts
Photo: Petra Ballings
Slopes towards Mt Nhamudimu, Chimanimani Mts
Photo: Petra Ballings
Slopes towards Mt Nhamudimu, Chimanimani Mts
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Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)
| Synonyms: |
Gymnogramma argentea (Willd.) Mett. ex Kuhn |
| Common names: | |
| Frequency: | |
| Status: | Native |
| Description: |
Rhizome short, c. 2 mm in diameter, erect to procumbent; rhizome scales linear attenuate, brown. Stipe up to 30 cm long, castaneous, glabrous with few scales near the base. Fronds tufted, arching, herbaceous. Lamina ovate-triangular in outline, up to 30×25 cm, 3- to 4- pinnatifid, basal pinnae basiscopically developed, upper surface green & glabrous, under surface covered with a yellow or white powder; ultimate pinnules deeply pinnatifid into rounded lobes, margins entire or shallowly lobed; veins free. Rhachis and secondary rhachis dark brown, shiny, occasionally with some patches of yellow or white powder. Sori linear, up to 2 mm long, exindusiate, along flabellate veins on secondary pinnules. |
| Notes: | The yellow or white powder on the undersurface of the pinnae makes this fern easy to recognize. P. calomelanos var. aureoflava also has yellow powder covering the lamina below; this species however is less divided (2- or 3-pinnatifid), more robust and the lamina is ovate to lanceolate in outline. |
| Derivation of specific name: | argentea: silvery; refers to the white powder on the underside of the frond. |
| Habitat: | In rock crevices and around boulders. |
| Altitude range: (metres) | 900 - 2500 m |
| Worldwide distribution: | Angola, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Réunion, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe. |
| Zimbabwe distribution: | N,C,E,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 |
| Literature: |
Burrows, J.E. (1990). Southern African Ferns and Fern Allies. Frandsen, Sandton. Pages 115 - 116. (Includes a picture). Burrows, J.E. & Burrows, S.M. (1993). An annotated check-list of the pteridophytes of Malawi Kirkia 14(1) Page 86. Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 44. Crouch, N.R., Klopper, R.R., Burrows, J.E. & Burrows, S.M. (2011). Ferns of Southern Africa, A comprehensive guide Struik Nature Pages 312 - 313. (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 14. Jacobsen, W.B.G. (1983). The Ferns and Fern Allies of Southern Africa. Butterworths, Durban and Pretoria. Pages 221 - 222. (Includes a picture). Kornas, J. (1979). Distribution and ecology of the Pteridophytes in Zambia Polska Akademia Nauk Wydzial II Nauk Biologicznych Page 61. 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 57. Roux, J.P. (2009). Synopsis of the Lycopodiophyta and Pteridophyta of Africa, Madagascar and neighbouring islands Page 177. Schelpe, E.A.C.L.E. (1970). Pteridophyta Flora Zambesiaca Pages 105 - 107. (Includes a picture). Wursten, B., Timberlake, J. & Darbyshire, I. (2017). The Chimanimani Mountains: an updated checklist. Kirkia 19(1) Page 80. |
Other sources of information about Pityrogramma argentea:
Our websites:
Flora of Malawi: Pityrogramma argenteaFlora of Mozambique: Pityrogramma argentea
Flora of Zambia: Pityrogramma argentea
External websites:
African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Pityrogramma argenteaAfrican Plant Database: Pityrogramma argentea
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Pityrogramma argentea
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Pityrogramma argentea
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Pityrogramma argentea
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Pityrogramma argentea
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Pityrogramma argentea
JSTOR Plant Science: Pityrogramma argentea
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Pityrogramma argentea
Plants of the World Online: Pityrogramma argentea
Tropicos: Pityrogramma argentea
Wikipedia: Pityrogramma argentea
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