Thelypteris usambarensis (Holttum) Christenh.

Thelypteridaceae, Bernard Verdcourt. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 2006

Type

Type: Tanzania, E Usambara Mts, Amani area, Marvera, Faden et al. 70/293 (EA, holo., one frond on 7 sheets*; K!, iso.)(Note: * Strictly speaking this should be one holotype and 6 isotypes but since it was a single frond deliberately collected as a single specimen I consider it absurd not to look on it as a single holotype. The sheets should be joined in some way to make one entity.)

Rhizomes

Rhizome shortly creeping or erect

Leaves

Fronds tufted, 1–2 m tall

Stipes

Stipe 30–45 cm long with small adpressed scales at base

Leaf lamina

Lamina oblong, 0.65–1.1m long, 26–52 cm wide, simply pinnate, the lower 3 pairs, 5–8 mm long and 4 preceding pairs reduced; longest pinnae linear-oblong, 11.5–30 cm long, 1.5–2.6 cm wide, long acuminate at apex, with few hairs above, glabrous beneath or rarely with few hairs, lobed 1/3–2/3 to costa; lobes semicircular to ovate-oblong, 2–7 mm long, 4–4.5 mm wide, subtruncate to round at apex, toothed or entire; veins 8–10 pairs, 2 basal pairs anastomosing

Indusium

Indusia glabrous or slightly hairy, rarely conspicuously hairy.

Sporangia

Sporangia not setose.

Ecology

Evergreen forest; 300–1500 m

Distribution

Flora districts: K7 T3 T6 T7 Range: Not known elsewhere