Dryopteris inaequalis

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]

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

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. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
  2. Schelpe, E.A.C.L.E. (1970). "Aspidiaceae". Flora Zambesiaca. 0.
  3. "Dryopteris inaequalis (Schltdl.) Kuntze". Red List of South African Plants. SANBI. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
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