Asplenium erectum Bory ex Willd.

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Photo: Petra Ballings
BR

Photo: Petra Ballings
Castleburn Forest, Vumba

Photo: Petra Ballings
By the Swynnerton Memorial, Chirinda Forest

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Synonyms:	Asplenium erectum Bory ex Willd. var. usambarense (Hieron.) Schelpe Asplenium lunulatum Sw. var. erectum (Bory ex Willd.) Sim Asplenium sphenolobium (Kunze) Hieron. var. usambarense Hieron. Asplenium usambarense (Hieron.) Hieron. Asplenium zeyheri Pappe & Rawson
Common names:
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Rhizome erect, up to 13 mm thick; scales dark brown, entire to subentire, up to 7 mm long. Fronds not proliferous, tufted, erect to arching. Stipe subglabrous with sparse scales towards the base, up to 9 cm long, matt-grey-brown. Lamina variable, 17-40 cm × 2.5-5 cm, narrowly elliptic in outline, pinnate to 2-pinnatifid with decrescent basal pinnae. Pinnae variable, up to 3 × 1 cm, up to 30-45 pairs; margins irregularly crenate, incised less than 1/2 way to the midrib; midrib forming the lower margin of the pinnae for some distance; apex obtuse to acuminate, basal acroscopic lobe well developed and free, glabrous. Sori 6-15, linear to oval, 1-2 mm long; indusium entire.
Notes:	Differs from similar species by having 6-15 sori per pinna, reduced pinnae towards lamina base, not proliferous fronds. Some autors recognize 2 varieties: var. erectum, which is restricted to South Africa, and var. usambarense occuring in Zimbabwe.
Derivation of specific name:	erectum: erect, upright; although the larger fronds are often arching.
Habitat:	In deep shade on forest floor of evergreen forest. Terrestrial or lithophytic.
Altitude range: (metres)	50 - 1800 m
Worldwide distribution:	Africa and Madagascan region.
Zimbabwe distribution:	E,S
Growth form(s):	Epiphyte, terrestrial.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Images last updated:	Monday 10 October 2011
Literature:	Burrows, J.E. (1990). Southern African Ferns and Fern Allies. Frandsen, Sandton. Pages 223 - 224. (Includes a picture). Burrows, J.E. & Burrows, S.M. (1993). An annotated check-list of the pteridophytes of Malawi Kirkia 14(1) Page 92. Burrows, J.E. & Willis, C.K. (eds) (2005). Plants of the Nyika Plateau Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 31 SABONET, Pretoria Page 25. as Asplenium erectum erectum and Asplenium erectum usambarense (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 7. As Asplenium erectum usambarense Crouch, N.R., Klopper, R.R., Burrows, J.E. & Burrows, S.M. (2011). Ferns of Southern Africa, A comprehensive guide Struik Nature Pages 606 - 607. (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 9. Dowsett-Lemaire, F. (1989). The flora and phytogeography of the evergreen forests of Malawi. I: Afromontane and mid-altitude forests; Bull. Jard. Bot. Nat. Belg. 59(1/2) Page 24. Fisher E. & Lobin W. (2024). Checklist of Lycopodiopsida (clubmosses and quillworts) and Polypodiopsida (ferns) of Rwanda. Willdenowia 53(3) Page 156. Fisher, E. & Lobin, W. (2023). Synoptic Revision of Aspleniaceae (Asplenium, Hymenasplenium) of Rwanda. Phytotaxa 608 (1) Page 17. Jacobsen, W.B.G. (1983). The Ferns and Fern Allies of Southern Africa. Butterworths, Durban and Pretoria. Pages 345 - 347. (Includes a picture). Kornas, J. (1979). Distribution and ecology of the Pteridophytes in Zambia Polska Akademia Nauk Wydzial II Nauk Biologicznych Page 98. 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 5. Roux, J.P. (2001). Conspectus of Southern African Pteridophyta. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report 13 Page 164. (Includes a picture). Roux, J.P. (2009). Synopsis of the Lycopodiophyta and Pteridophyta of Africa, Madagascar and neighbouring islands Pages 84 - 85. Schelpe, E.A.C.L.E. (1970). Pteridophyta Flora Zambesiaca Pages 175 - 176. (Includes a picture). Timberlake, J.R., Bayliss, J., Dowsett-Lemaire, F., Congdon, C., Branch, B., Collins, S., Curran, M., Dowsett, R,J., Fishpool, L., Francisco, J., Harris, Kopp, M. & de Sousa, C. (2012). Mt Mabu, Mozambique: Biodiversity and Conservation Report produced under the Darwin Initiative Award 15/036. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London Page 71. Wursten, B., Timberlake, J. & Darbyshire, I. (2017). The Chimanimani Mountains: an updated checklist. Kirkia 19(1) Page 78.

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Flora of Burundi: Asplenium erectum
Flora of Malawi: Asplenium erectum
Flora of Mozambique: Asplenium erectum
Flora of Rwanda: Asplenium erectum
Flora of Zambia: Asplenium erectum

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Wikipedia: Asplenium erectum