Asplenium gemmascens Alston

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Photo: Petra Ballings
Mt. Gorongosa, forest Canda side

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Synonyms:	Asplenium torrei Schelpe
Common names:
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Rhizome ascending to long creeping, up to 4 (7) mm thick; scales c. 3.5 mm long, dark brown to black, linear-lanceolate in outline, apex with a long drawn-out point, margins entire. Fronds tufted, suberect, thinly coriaceous, proliferous, gemma born towards the apex of the lamina at the base of the apical segment. Stipe up to 30 cm, stipe and rhachis matt-black, subglabrous with minute scales. Lamina up to 35 × 10.5 cm, imparipinnate with terminal segment resembling the subapical pinna. Pinnae up to 6.2 × 2 cm, elongate trapeziform in outline, glabrous on both sides, margins with sharply pointed teeth, base unequally wedge-shaped, apex sharply pointed. Sori linear, up to 1.5 mm long, set at an acute angle towards a fairly prominent costa, indusium entire, membranous.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:
Habitat:	On moist, deeply shaded rocks or as a terrestrial in evergreen forests.
Altitude range:
Worldwide distribution:	Africa.
Mozambique distribution:	MS
Growth form(s):	Epiphyte, terrestrial.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Literature:	Beentje, H.J. (2008). Aspleniaceae Flora of Tropical East Africa Page 15. (Includes a picture). Burrows, J.E. & Burrows, S.M. (1993). An annotated check-list of the pteridophytes of Malawi Kirkia 14(1) Page 93. 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 25. As Asplenium torrei 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 18. Jacobsen, W.B.G. (1983). The Ferns and Fern Allies of Southern Africa. Butterworths, Durban and Pretoria. Page 358. As Asplenium torrei Schelpe (Includes a picture). Roux, J.P. (2000). Pteridophyta; a new combination and new records for the flora of Malawi Bothalia 30(2) Pages 155 - 156. (Includes a picture). Roux, J.P. (2001). Conspectus of Southern African Pteridophyta. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report 13 Page 166. (Includes a picture). Roux, J.P. (2009). Synopsis of the Lycopodiophyta and Pteridophyta of Africa, Madagascar and neighbouring islands Page 86. Schelpe, E.A.C.L.E. (1970). Pteridophyta Flora Zambesiaca Page 180. As Asplenium torrei Schelpe

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Flora of Malawi: Asplenium gemmascens
Flora of Rwanda: Asplenium gemmascens

External websites:

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