Asplenium mossambicense Schelpe

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Photo: Petra Ballings
SRGH

Photo: Petra Ballings
By the Swynnerton Memorial, Chirinda Forest

Photo: Petra Ballings
BR

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Synonyms:
Common names:
Frequency:	Rare
Status:	Native
Description:	Rhizome erect, c.5 mm diameter; scales dark brown, lanceolate, entire, up to 4 mm long. Fronds tufted, proliferous at the base of the terminal pinea, fertile fronds 1/3 longer than sterile fronds. Stipe up to 23 cm (42.5 cm), stipe and rhachis with a few dark brown scales. Lamina 15 cm × 9 cm (sterile), 25 cm × 12 cm (fertile), pinnate. Pinnae glabrous with a few minute scales along the costa, up to 8 pairs, oblong-elliptic, margin crenate, base asymmetrical. Sori linear, set at 45° to the costa; indusium entire, membranous.
Notes:	Rare fern, endemic to the sub region. Confused with A. christii; A. mossambicense has weakly dimorphic fronds and pinnae that are less widely spaced distally.
Derivation of specific name:	mossambicense: of Mozambique; type specimen was found on Mount Gorongosa in Mozambique.
Habitat:	Deeply shaded moist evergreen forest. Terrestrial or lithophyte.
Altitude range: (metres)	900 - 1250 m
Worldwide distribution:	Kenya, Mozambique, Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe distribution:	E
Growth form(s):	Lithophyte.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:	Vulnerable
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Images last updated:	Sunday 6 November 2011
Literature:	Burrows, J.E. (1990). Southern African Ferns and Fern Allies. Frandsen, Sandton. Pages 218 - 220. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 7. 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. Golding, J.S. (ed.) (2002). Zimbabwe Plant Red Data List. Southern African Plant Red Data Lists. SABONET 14 Page 162. Jacobsen, W.B.G. (1983). The Ferns and Fern Allies of Southern Africa. Butterworths, Durban and Pretoria. Pages 333 - 334. (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 5. Roux, J.P. (2001). Conspectus of Southern African Pteridophyta. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report 13 Page 168. Roux, J.P. (2009). Synopsis of the Lycopodiophyta and Pteridophyta of Africa, Madagascar and neighbouring islands Page 91. Schelpe, E.A.C.L.E. (1970). Pteridophyta Flora Zambesiaca Pages 172 - 173.

Other sources of information about Asplenium mossambicense:

Our websites:

Flora of Malawi: Asplenium mossambicense
Flora of Mozambique: Asplenium mossambicense

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Asplenium mossambicense
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Asplenium mossambicense
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Asplenium mossambicense
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Asplenium mossambicense
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Asplenium mossambicense
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Asplenium mossambicense
JSTOR Plant Science: Asplenium mossambicense
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Asplenium mossambicense
Plants of the World Online: Asplenium mossambicense
Tropicos: Asplenium mossambicense
Wikipedia: Asplenium mossambicense