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Synonyms: |
Lycopodium saururus Lam. Plananthus saururus (Lam.) P. Beauv. Urostachys saururus (Lam.) Herter |
Common names: | |
Frequency: | Rare |
Status: | Native |
Description: |
Stems erect, unbranched, up to 32 cm long. Foliage leaves c. 12 × 2 mm, closely overlapping, lanceolate, entire, coriaceous, mid- to light green. Fertile portion not differentiated; sporophylls the same size and shape as the foliage leaves; sporangia hidden in the leaf axils at the end of the stem. |
Notes: | H. saururus is easily recognisable by its unbranched, erect stems that have an indistinct fertile portion; sporophylls similar to foliage leaves. |
Derivation of specific name: | saururus: lizard-like, referring to the scaly appearance of the stems. |
Habitat: | Rock crevices in montane areas; mossy, earth streambanks in montane forest. |
Altitude range: (metres) | Above 1700 m |
Worldwide distribution: | Lesotho, Malawi, South Africa, Zimbabwe and on tropical African mountains. Also Madagascar and the Andes in South America. |
Zimbabwe distribution: | E |
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 21 February 2009 |
Literature: |
Burrows, J.E. (1990). Southern African Ferns and Fern Allies. Frandsen, Sandton. Page 12. (Includes a picture). Burrows, J.E. & Burrows, S.M. (1993). An annotated check-list of the pteridophytes of Malawi Kirkia 14(1) Page 80. Crouch, N.R., Klopper, R.R., Burrows, J.E. & Burrows, S.M. (2011). Ferns of Southern Africa, A comprehensive guide Struik Nature Pages 28 - 29. (Includes a picture). Jacobsen, W.B.G. (1983). The Ferns and Fern Allies of Southern Africa. Butterworths, Durban and Pretoria. Pages 132 - 133. (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 7. Roux, J.P. (2001). Conspectus of Southern African Pteridophyta. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report 13 Page 21. Roux, J.P. (2009). Synopsis of the Lycopodiophyta and Pteridophyta of Africa, Madagascar and neighbouring islands Page 15. Schelpe, E.A.C.L.E. (1970). Pteridophyta Flora Zambesiaca Page 17. |
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