Asplenium theciferum Humb., Bonpl. & Kunth

Selected images: Click on each image to see a larger version and details of the record View all images (4)

Photo: Petra Ballings
BR

Photo: Petra Ballings
Mount Chinaka, Juliasdale

Detailed records: Display species records QDS maps by: Google Maps Point records by Google Maps

Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)

Synonyms:	Asplenium concinnum (Schrad.) Kuhn. Asplenium theciferum (Humb., Bonpl. & Kunth) Mett. var. concinnum (Schrad.) Schelpe Asplenium theciferum sensu Sim Asplenium theciferum (Humb., Bonpl. & Kunth) Mett. subsp. concinnum (Schrad.) Bonap. Davallia campyloneura Kunze Davallia concinna Schrad. Loxoscape concinnum (Schrad.) T.Moore Loxoscaphe theciferum (Humb., Bonpl. & Kunth) T.Moore subsp. concinnum (Schrad.) Pic.Serm. Loxoscaphe theciferum (Humb., Bonpl. & Kunth) T.Moore var. concinnum (Schrad.) Kuhn
Common names:
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Rhizome erect, up to 12 mm in diameter; scales dark brown, lanceolate, margin ciliate, up to 6 mm long. Fronds tufted, not proliferous, fleshy. Stipe up to 13 cm, set with few scales becoming subglabrous with age, narrowly winged. Lamina 9-26 cm × 2.5-6 cm, 2-pinnate to 3-pinnatifid, narrowly oblong-lanceolate to lanceolate in outline. Pinnae glabrous, divided into linear-spathulate lobes, with the costa winged. Rhachis winged. Sori bulbous, oblong to circular, terminal on the apex of the ultimate lobes, each lobe carries a single sorus, indusium entire.
Type location:
Notes:	Confusion with A. rutifolium; A. theciferum has sori born on the tips of the ultimate lobes, a narrowly winged stipe and a thinner rhizome.
Derivation of specific name:	-theca: capsule bearing, referring to the terminal structure of the bulbous sorus; connicum: pretty, elegant, referring to the pleasant look of this fern.
Habitat:	Deeply shaded moist evergreen forest. Epiphyte or lithophyte
Altitude range: (metres)	200 - 2300 m
Worldwide distribution:	Angola, Bioko, Burundi, Cameroon,DRC, Equatorial guinea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa, Eswatini, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Madagascan region
National distribution:	E,S
Growth form(s):	Epiphyte.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Images last updated:	Thursday 24 November 2011
Literature:	Burrows, J.E. (1990). Southern African Ferns and Fern Allies. Frandsen, Sandton. Page 238. (Includes a picture). Burrows, J.E. & Burrows, S.M. (1993). An annotated check-list of the pteridophytes of Malawi Kirkia 14(1) Page 94. Burrows, J.E. & Willis, C.K. (eds) (2005). Plants of the Nyika Plateau Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 31 SABONET, Pretoria Page 27. as Asplenium theciferum concinnum Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 8. As Asplenium theciferum concinnum Crouch, N.R., Klopper, R.R., Burrows, J.E. & Burrows, S.M. (2011). Ferns of Southern Africa, A comprehensive guide Struik Nature Pages 632 - 633. (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. As Asplenium theciferum var. concinnum 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 26. Fischer E. & Lobin W. (2024). Checklist of Lycopodiopsida (clubmosses and quillworts) and Polypodiopsida (ferns) of Rwanda. Willdenowia 53(3) Page 158. Fischer, E. & Killmann, D. (2008). Illustrated Field guide to the Plants of Nyungwe National Park Rwanda. University of Koblenz-Landau. Page 66. (Includes a picture). Fischer, E. & Lobin, W. (2023). Synoptic Revision of Aspleniaceae (Asplenium, Hymenasplenium) of Rwanda. Phytotaxa 608 (1) Pages 45 - 46. Jacobsen, W.B.G. (1983). The Ferns and Fern Allies of Southern Africa. Butterworths, Durban and Pretoria. Pages 378 - 379. (Includes a picture). Kornas, J. (1979). Distribution and ecology of the Pteridophytes in Zambia Polska Akademia Nauk Wydzial II Nauk Biologicznych Pages 103 - 104. 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. Ntore, S. & al. (2024). Checklist of the vascular plants of Burundi Page 29. Roux, J.P. (2001). Conspectus of Southern African Pteridophyta. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report 13 Pages 171 - 172. Roux, J.P. (2009). Synopsis of the Lycopodiophyta and Pteridophyta of Africa, Madagascar and neighbouring islands Page 98. Schelpe, E.A.C.L.E. (1970). Pteridophyta Flora Zambesiaca Page 188. (Includes a picture). Wursten, B., Timberlake, J. & Darbyshire, I. (2017). The Chimanimani Mountains: an updated checklist. Kirkia 19(1) Page 78.

Other sources of information about Asplenium theciferum:

Our websites:

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

External websites:

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