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Pellaea calomelanos
calomelanos
Selected images: Click on each image to see a larger version and details of the record View all images (33)
Photo: Bart Wursten
Quarry kopje, Cleveland Dam
Photo: Petra Ballings
Path from entrance gate to Great Enclosure, Great Zimbabwe
Photo: Petra Ballings
Near the lodges, Lake Kyle Recreational Park
Photo: Petra Ballings
Near the lodges, Lake Kyle Recreational Park
Photo: Petra Ballings
Mutirikwi CL, Murray MacDougall Drive
Photo: Petra Ballings
Mpinge pass, Great Dyke
Photo: Petra Ballings
Khami Ruins, Bulawayo.
Photo: Petra Ballings
Hippo Pools, Umfurudzi Safari area
Photo: Petra Ballings
Christon Bank, Harare
Photo: Bart Wursten
Along Fort Usher road, Matobo
Photo: Mark Hyde
Mazvikadei Dam carpark
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Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)
| Synonyms: |
Allosorus calomelanos (Sw.) C. Presl. Notholaena calomelanos (Sw.) Keyserl. Pellaea hastata sensu Sim Pteris calomelanos Sw. Pteris hastata sensu Thunb. |
| Common names: | Kabovora (Shona) Mumvuriwedombo (Shona) |
| Frequency: | Common |
| Status: | Native |
| Description: |
Rhizome erect to shortly creeping, c. 6 mm in diameter; rhizome scales black, margins pale, linear-lanceolate in outline, apex slowly tapering to a point, up to 10 mm long. Fronds tufted, erect to arching, coriaceous, glaucous, usually less than 40 cm tall. Stipe 5-30 cm long, round, black, very shining, hairless, sometimes with a few scales similar to the rhizome scales near the base, old stipe bases present. Lamina ovate in outline, 10-25 cm × 2.5-15 cm, mostly 2-pinnate, occasionally 3-pinnate on the lower pinnae, with 7-12 pairs of pinnae. Pinnae opposite to slightly alternate, oblong-ovate in outline. Pinnules less than 2 cm long, rounded to broadly hastate, with 3-5 acute to rounded points, articulated, petiolate, grey-green above, paler below, hairless, venetion free, hardly visible. Rhachis and secondary rhachis shiny black, hairless. Sori borne in a continuous ridge along the margins, indusium continuous, entire, membranous. |
| Notes: | The rounded to broadly hastate pinnules, with typically 3-5 acute to rounded points, a grey-green colour and thick texture make this species easy to recognize. P. calomelanos var. swynnertoniana has larger fronds and pinnules that are more than 2 cm long; it is restricted to the east and southern parts of Zimbabwe. |
| Derivation of specific name: | kalos: pretty, melanos: dark; an allusion to the glossy black stipe and rhachis of the plant. |
| Habitat: | On rocky outcrops in woodland and grassland, favouring warm conditions in both dry and wet climates. |
| Altitude range: (metres) | 900 - 1800 m |
| Worldwide distribution: | Throughout southern, central and eastern Africa as far as Sudan; also Madagascar, Comoro Isl., Mascarene Isl., northern India, northeastern Spain. |
| Zimbabwe distribution: | N,W,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 |
| Images last updated: | Monday 5 August 2013 |
| Literature: |
Burrows, J.E. (1990). Southern African Ferns and Fern Allies. Frandsen, Sandton. Pages 176 - 177. (Includes a picture). Burrows, J.E. & Burrows, S.M. (1993). An annotated check-list of the pteridophytes of Malawi Kirkia 14(1) Page 89. Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 43. Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 28. Crouch, N.R., Klopper, R.R., Burrows, J.E. & Burrows, S.M. (2011). Ferns of Southern Africa, A comprehensive guide Struik Nature Pages 418 - 419. (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. Germishuizen, G. & Meyer, N.L. (eds) (2003). Plants of southern Africa: an annotated checklist. Strelitzia 14 Page 82. Jacobsen, W.B.G. (1983). The Ferns and Fern Allies of Southern Africa. Butterworths, Durban and Pretoria. Pages 277 - 279. (Includes a picture). Kornas, J. (1979). Distribution and ecology of the Pteridophytes in Zambia Polska Akademia Nauk Wydzial II Nauk Biologicznych Pages 53 - 54. 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 Pages 70 - 71. (Includes a picture). Roux, J.P. (2009). Synopsis of the Lycopodiophyta and Pteridophyta of Africa, Madagascar and neighbouring islands Page 189. Schelpe, E.A.C.L.E. (1970). Pteridophyta Flora Zambesiaca Pages 132 - 133. Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 16. Wursten, B., Timberlake, J. & Darbyshire, I. (2017). The Chimanimani Mountains: an updated checklist. Kirkia 19(1) Page 80. |
Other sources of information about Pellaea calomelanos var. calomelanos:
Our websites:
Flora of Botswana: Pellaea calomelanos var. calomelanosFlora of Malawi: Pellaea calomelanos var. calomelanos
Flora of Mozambique: Pellaea calomelanos var. calomelanos
Flora of Zambia: Pellaea calomelanos var. calomelanos
External websites:
African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Pellaea calomelanosBHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Pellaea calomelanos
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Pellaea calomelanos
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Pellaea calomelanos
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Pellaea calomelanos
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Pellaea calomelanos
JSTOR Plant Science: Pellaea calomelanos
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Pellaea calomelanos
Plants of the World Online: Pellaea calomelanos
Tropicos: Pellaea calomelanos
Wikipedia: Pellaea calomelanos
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