Polystichum transvaalense N.C. Anthony

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Zovo Chipolo Trail, Nyika National Park

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Synonyms:
Common names:
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Rhizome erect; rhizome scales up to 12 mm long, margin irregularly lacerate, brown, linear, tapering to a point. Fronds tufted, erect to arching. Stipe up to 30 cm long, pale brown, with a longitudinal groove above, densely set in the lower half with 2 types of scales. Lamina narrowly ovate in outline, attenuate, 2-pinnate, with basal pair of pinnae not or only slightly reduced, up to 65 × 30 cm. Pinnules elliptic to obovate in outline, basal acroscopic lobe well developed; margins aristate with aristae ± 0.5 mm long, basal basiscopic aristae folded in over the upper surface of the lamina; upper surface subglabrous, lower surface sparsely set with hair-like scales. Rhachis and secondary rhachis with matted, brown hair-like scales. Sori round, in 2 rows halfway between the margin and the costules; indusia c. 1 mm in diameter, peltate, erose.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	transvaalense: from the Transvaal, South Africa where the type specimen was collected.
Habitat:	Shaded forest floors, along streams or in seepage areas.
Altitude range:	1000 - 2150 m
Worldwide distribution:	Southern subtropical and tropical Africa
Malawi distribution:	N,S
Growth form(s):	Lithophyte, terrestrial.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated:	Sunday 2 September 2018
Literature:	Burrows, J.E. (1990). Southern African Ferns and Fern Allies. Frandsen, Sandton. Pages 314 - 315. (Includes a picture). Burrows, J.E. & Burrows, S.M. (1993). An annotated check-list of the pteridophytes of Malawi Kirkia 14(1) Page 99. Burrows, J.E. & Willis, C.K. (eds) (2005). Plants of the Nyika Plateau Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 31 SABONET, Pretoria Page 28. Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 45. In error as Polystichum transkeiense Crouch, N.R., Klopper, R.R., Burrows, J.E. & Burrows, S.M. (2011). Ferns of Southern Africa, A comprehensive guide Struik Nature Pages 460 - 461. (Includes a picture). 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 10. Jacobsen, W.B.G. (1983). The Ferns and Fern Allies of Southern Africa. Butterworths, Durban and Pretoria. Pages 447 - 448. As Polystichum setiferum (Forssk.) Moore ex Woynar var. fuscopaleaceum (Alston) Schelpe (Includes a picture). 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 6. Roux, J.P. (2001). Conspectus of Southern African Pteridophyta. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report 13 Page 130. Roux, J.P. (2009). Synopsis of the Lycopodiophyta and Pteridophyta of Africa, Madagascar and neighbouring islands Page 139. Schelpe, E.A.C.L.E. (1970). Pteridophyta Flora Zambesiaca Page 226. As Polystichum setiferum (Forssk.) Moore ex Woynar var. fuscopaleaceum (Alston) Schelpe (Includes a picture).

Other sources of information about Polystichum transvaalense:

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Flora of Mozambique: Polystichum transvaalense
Flora of Rwanda: Polystichum transvaalense
Flora of Zambia: Polystichum transvaalense
Flora of Zimbabwe: Polystichum transvaalense

External websites:

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