Asplenium aethiopicum (Burm.f.) Bech. subsp. ?

Syn:

This fern has a creeping rhizome with 3-7mm long scales and closely spaced tuffed fronds. The stipe is subglabrous and not as long as the lamina. The lamina (120-640 x 37-270mm) is strongly 2 pinnatifid to 3 pinnate and oblong-lanceolate in outline. Pinnae ovate to narrowly lanceolate with acute apex and irregularly serrated margins. Linear sori are set along flabellate veins, sori more than one per lobe, indusiate.

Note : Asplenium aethiopicum (Burm.f.) Bech. has been split up in 4 subsp., all occure in Zimbabwe. It is unknown if they are found in the Vumba.

Ecology: Wide variety of habitats, deciduous woodland, high altitude mist forest, riverine forest, evergreen coastal forest.

Derivation of the specific name: aethiopicum: a general term for the African continent, type specimen came from S.A. not from Ethiopia

Distribution in southern Africa: Malawi, Zambia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Swaziland, South Africa

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