Polystichum magnificum F.Ballard

Dryopteridaceae, JP Roux, M Shaffer-Fehre, B Verdcourt. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 2007

Type

Uganda, Mount Elgon, in the crater north of Maji ya moto, Hedberg 965 (K!, holo.; K!, iso.)

Morphology General Habit

Terrestrial.

Vegetative Multiplication Rhizomes

Rhizome short-creeping, branched, up to 12 mm in diameter, with dense papery reddish narrowly linear scales up to 30 × 2 mm

Morphology Leaves

Fronds 6–7 per plant, erect to suberect, up to 113 cm long.

Morphology Leaves Stipes

Stipe reddish-brown at base, straw-coloured above, up to 47 cm long, 0.9 cm in diameter, with adaxial groove, with dense reddish narrowly ovate scales up to 40 × 2 mm, margin with widely spaced projections, apex acicular, scales towards top of Stipe more variable in size, larger scales narrowly ovate, up to 28 × 8 mm, smaller scales narrowly triangular and shortly stalked.

Morphology Leaves Leaf lamina

Lamina leathery, dark green above, slightly paler below, narrowly ovate to oblong, up to 66 cm long, 2-pinnate to 3-pinnatifid.

Morphology Leaves Rachis

Rachis straw-coloured, up to 40 cm long, with adaxial groove, with dense reddish ovate acuminate scales and often with a single gemmiferous bud near apex, densely enclosed by reddish bud scales.

Morphology Leaves Pinnae

Pinnae oblong ovate, up to 13 cm long; costa straw-coloured with adaxial groove with dense scales, similar to but smaller than those on the rachis; pinnules inaequilaterally ovate, lobate, crenate, lowest pinnules acroscopically incised to or near to adaxial groove, adaxially and abaxially with dense reddish papery scales 4–5 mm long, simple or with short marginal outgrowths at base, often twisted; venation evident

Morphology Reproductive morphology Sori

Sori medial to inframedial, uniseriate, discrete at maturity, circular, up to 2.2 mm in diameter; sporangium with annulus of 11–17 cells; indusium persistent, peltate, incomplete to circular, erose, maximum radial length 1.14 mm, brown

Morphology Reproductive morphology Spores

Spores relatively smooth, echinulate

Figures

Figure 10: 3-4, figure 11:6

Ecology

Bamboo zone or moorland, in sheltered sites; 3300–3800 m

Conservation

Although restricted in distribution the species is not considered to be threatened.

Distribution

Flora districts: U3 K3, K5 Range: Endemic to Elgon and the Bale, Arussi, and Gamu Gofa regions in southern Ethiopia

Use

None recorded for our area