Home | > | List of families | > | Thelypteridaceae | > | Ampelopteris | > | prolifera |
Synonyms: |
Dryopteris prolifera (Retz.) C.Chr. Goniopteris prolifera (Retz.) C.Presl Thelypteris prolifera (Retz.) P.J.Vorster |
Common names: | |
Frequency: | |
Status: | Native |
Description: |
Rhizome long creeping, up to 10 mm in diameter; rhizome scales black, triangular, entire. Fronds closely spaced, arching, proliferous at intervals along the rhachis, thinly coriaceous. Stipe up to 40 cm long, pale brown, hairless. Lamina up to 1 × 0.26 m, lanceolate in outline, pinnate, apex of indefinite growth, lower 3-4 pairs of pinnae gradually reduced in size. Pinnae narrowly oblong, shortly petiolate to sessile, base truncate, often with the basal acroscopic lobe overlapping the rhachis, margin shallowly incised into lobes with 5-7 pairs of veins anastomosing below the shallow sinus; undersurface sparsely set with minute hairs, upper surface hairless. Rhachis pale brown, hairless. Sori round to elongated, situated along the veins, with paraphyses; exindusiate. |
Notes: | Resembles Pneumatopteris unita which has a single gemmae positioned at the apex of the rhachis, an erect rhizome and 4-5 pairs of veins meeting below the sinus; this species is not found in full sun.
Ampelopteris prolifera look for: proliferous habit with several gemmae positioned along the rhachis, shortly creeping rhizome, 5-7 pairs of veins anastomising. |
Derivation of specific name: | prolifera: bearing plantlets; this plant produces adventituous shoots from the lamina. |
Habitat: | Among grass, sedges, reed banks of Phragmites on banks of rivers, ponds or lakes in hot deciduous woodland, sometimes in light shade of riverine forest. |
Altitude range: (metres) | Up to 1160 m |
Worldwide distribution: | Southern Africa extending to central and tropical Africa, throughout the tropics of the old world, also Madagascar and Mauritius. |
Zimbabwe distribution: | N,W,E,S |
Growth form(s): | Terrestrial. |
Endemic status: | |
Red data list status: | |
Insects associated with this species: | |
Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
Images last updated: | Saturday 26 January 2013 |
Literature: |
Burrows, J.E. (1990). Southern African Ferns and Fern Allies. Frandsen, Sandton. Pages 270 - 272. (Includes a picture). Burrows, J.E. & Burrows, S.M. (1993). An annotated check-list of the pteridophytes of Malawi Kirkia 14(1) Page 96. Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 5. Crouch, N.R., Klopper, R.R., Burrows, J.E. & Burrows, S.M. (2011). Ferns of Southern Africa, A comprehensive guide Struik Nature Pages 700 - 701. (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 15. Jacobsen, W.B.G. (1983). The Ferns and Fern Allies of Southern Africa. Butterworths, Durban and Pretoria. Pages 398 - 399. (Includes a picture). Kornas, J. (1979). Distribution and ecology of the Pteridophytes in Zambia Polska Akademia Nauk Wydzial II Nauk Biologicznych Pages 93 - 94. 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 10. Roux, J.P. (2001). Conspectus of Southern African Pteridophyta. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report 13 Pages 113 - 114. (Includes a picture). Roux, J.P. (2009). Synopsis of the Lycopodiophyta and Pteridophyta of Africa, Madagascar and neighbouring islands Page 201. Schelpe, E.A.C.L.E. (1970). Pteridophyta Flora Zambesiaca Pages 200 - 202. (Includes a picture). |
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