Botanical name

Asplenium adiantum-nigrum

Family

Aspleniaceae

Common Name

Black Spleenwort

Description

Perennial fern with shortly creeping rhizome. Stipe dark-brown to black, shiny, subterranean stipe base swollen, semi-succulent and pale-green. Fronds closely packed, erect to arching up to 40cm long. Lamina ovate to narrowly deltate, 2- or 3-pinnate; pinnae thinly leathery, glabrous above, margins evenly dentate with many (6-20) small teeth. Sori oval up to 3mm long, clustered along costae; indusium entire.

Greek: adiantos = unwetted; refers to the water repelling pinnules of this genus.

This species is widespread in South Africa, common in winter rainfall areas of Western Cape.

 

Habitat

In light shade of forest on earth banks, along streambanks in moutainous areas