Asplenium theciferum Humb., Bonpl. & Kunth

Images: Click on each image to see a larger version and details of the record

Photo: Petra Ballings
BR

Records and maps: Display species records Map species using 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.
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:	200 - 2300 m
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	Angola, Bioko, Burundi, Cameroon,DRC, Equatorial guinea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Madagascan region
Mozambique distribution:	N,Z,T,MS
Growth form:
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects (whose larvae eat this species):
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated:	Thursday 24 November 2011
Literature:	Burrows, J.E. (1990). Southern African Ferns and Fern Allies. Frandsen, Sandton. Page 238. (Includes a picture). 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). 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. 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 FZ Page 188. (Includes a picture).

Other sources of information about Asplenium theciferum:

Biodiversity Explorer (Biodiversity of southern Africa): Asplenium theciferum
ePIC (electronic Plant Information Center): Asplenium theciferum
Flora Zambesiaca web site: Asplenium theciferum
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
GRIN (Germplasm Resources Information Network) taxonomy for plants report for Asplenium theciferum
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Asplenium theciferum
JSTOR Plant Science: Asplenium theciferum
Kew Herbarium catalogue: Asplenium theciferum
Tropicos: Asplenium theciferum
West African Plants database: Asplenium theciferum