Mohria lepigera (Baker) Baker

Syn: Notholaena lepigera Baker
Photos: Petra Ballings, Vumba, Zimbabwe and Ballings 28, 25-06-2000, Castle Beacon Vumba, private collection 

     This species has a shortly creeping rhizome with closely spaced fronds. The lamina (130-480 x 20-55mm) is oblanceolate in outline and 2- to 3- pinnatifid, with some much-reduced pinnae basaly. The lower surface of the pinnae are covered with white, lanceolate, overlapping scales; these are also present on the stipe & rachis. Upper surface is subglabrous, it occasionaly has yellow glands. The ultimate segments are incised into serrate lobes that carry solitary, submarginal sporangia.
Ecology: Growing on quarzitic soils around the base of boulders or on vegetation islands on granite sheetrock, 1200-1890m
Derivation of the specific name: lepigera: scale-bearing, referring to the undersurface of the fronds that are densely covered in scales
Distribution in southern Africa: Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe
 

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Copyright: Petra Ballings, 2006