| Home | > | List of families | > | Pteridaceae | > | Anogramma | > | leptophylla |
| Synonyms: |
Acrostichum leptophyllum (L.) Lam. & DC. Asplenium leptophyllum (L.) Sw. Grammitis leptophylla (L.) Sw. Osmunda leptophylla (L.) Savigny Polypodium leptophyllum L. |
| Common names: | |
| Frequency: | |
| Status: | Native |
| Description: |
Rhizome erect, minute, 2-4 mm in diameter; rhizome scales linear. Fronds tufted, fertile fronds a bit longer and more erect than the sterile ones. Stipe up to 5cm long, dark brown, shiny, glabrous but with a few small scales near the base. Lamina up to 5cm long and 3cm wide, 2- to 3- pinnatifid, oblong-ovate in outline, divided into alternate, petiolate pinnae, veins simple or forked, texture thin. Rhachis castaneous to strawcoloured, narrowly winged above. Sori clustered along the veins of the ultimate segments, exindusiate. |
| Notes: | Recognisable by its small size. For that reason probably often overlooked or confused with the sporelings of other ferns. |
| Derivation of specific name: | leptophylla: thin-leaved, referring to the membranous fronds. |
| Habitat: | Moist earth banks below overhanging vegetation, mossy areas below cliffs, around boulders in shade. |
| Altitude range: (metres) | 1600 - 1850 m |
| Worldwide distribution: | Widespread in Africa, also Azores, southern Europe, Iran, Sri Lanka, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil and Mexico. |
| Zimbabwe distribution: | N,E |
| Growth form(s): | 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 114 - 115. (Includes a picture). Burrows, J.E. & Willis, C.K. (eds) (2005). Plants of the Nyika Plateau Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 31 SABONET, Pretoria Page 38. (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 310 - 311. (Includes a picture). Jacobsen, W.B.G. (1983). The Ferns and Fern Allies of Southern Africa. Butterworths, Durban and Pretoria. Pages 220 - 221. (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 58. Roux, J.P. (2009). Synopsis of the Lycopodiophyta and Pteridophyta of Africa, Madagascar and neighbouring islands Page 168. Schelpe, E.A.C.L.E. (1970). Pteridophyta Flora Zambesiaca Pages 99 - 100. (Includes a picture). |
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