Biology:Dryopteris inaequalis

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Short description: Species of fern

Dryopteris inaequalis
Dryopteris inaequalis, Louwsburg.jpg
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Division: Polypodiophyta
Class: Polypodiopsida
Order: Polypodiales
Suborder: Polypodiineae
Family: Dryopteridaceae
Genus: Dryopteris
Species:
D. inaequalis
Binomial name
Dryopteris inaequalis
(Schltdl.) Kuntze

Dryopteris inaequalis is an Afrotropical fern species that ranges from tropical and southern Africa to Madagascar.[1] It has been recorded in Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and South Africa,[2] where it is present in the Western Cape, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.[3] It is found on forest floors and along forest margins, from middle to high altitudes.[2]

Description

It has a creeping rhizome of up to 3.5 cm in diameter, that bears attenuate pale-brown rhizome-scales of up to 2 cm long.[2] The stipe is up to 80 cm long and is only densely scaled towards its base. The lamina is up to 90 x 33 cm, broadly to narrowly ovate with an acuminate apex with the basal pinnae not reduced, or barely so.[2] The pinnae are up to 33 x 16 cm and form an angle of more than 50° to the rachis. The pinnules are oblong to very narrowly oblong in outline. The rachis becomes glabrous with maturity.[2]

Varieties

  • D. inaequalis var. atropaleacea – Tanzania to Zambia. Rhizome and stipe scales black
  • D. inaequalis var. inaequalis – Zambia to South Africa. Rhizome and stipe scales brown

References

  1. "Dryopteris inaequalis". Tropicos. EOL. http://eol.org/pages/6099233/overview. Retrieved 1 July 2013. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Schelpe, E.A.C.L.E. (1970). "Aspidiaceae". Flora Zambesiaca. http://apps.kew.org/efloras/namedetail.do?flora=fz&taxon=7853&nameid=20029. 
  3. "Dryopteris inaequalis (Schltdl.) Kuntze". Red List of South African Plants. SANBI. http://redlist.sanbi.org/species.php?species=3701-5. Retrieved 1 July 2013. 

Wikidata ☰ Q15567732 entry