Vittaria isoetifolia Bory

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Photo: Petra Ballings
Cloudlands forest, Vumba

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Synonyms:	Oetosis isoetifolia (Bory) Greene Pteropsis angustifolia Pappa & Raws Vittaria gueinzii Trevis. Vittaria sarmentosa Ruiz ex Fée Vittaria tenera Fée
Common names:
Frequency:
Status:
Description:	Rhizome shortly creeping, branched, c. 3 mm in diameter; rhizome scales brown, 8-12 mm long, narrowly lanceolate, clathrate, apex tapering to a pointed, margins finely toothed. Fronds numerous, tufted (spaced 1-5 mm apart), up to 90 cm long, coracious, pendulous; stipe green, drying to brown. Lamina 2-3 mm wide, linear, dark green above, paler below, glabrous on both surfaces. Midrib and veins not visible. Sori in two deep intramarginal grooves, often extending to the whole length of the frond; indusium continuous, on both sides of each soral row.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	isoetifolia: with leaves like Isoetes, a genus of fern allies with linear, grass-like fronds.
Habitat:
Altitude range:
Worldwide distribution:	Comoro Isl., Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Réunion, South Africa, Eswatini, Tanzania, Zimbabwe.
Malawi distribution:	S
Growth form(s):	Epiphyte, lithophyte.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Literature:	Burrows, J.E. (1990). Southern African Ferns and Fern Allies. Frandsen, Sandton. Pages 108 - 110. (Includes a picture). Burrows, J.E. & Burrows, S.M. (1993). An annotated check-list of the pteridophytes of Malawi Kirkia 14(1) Page 85. Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 58. Crouch, N.R., Klopper, R.R., Burrows, J.E. & Burrows, S.M. (2011). Ferns of Southern Africa, A comprehensive guide Struik Nature Pages 438 - 439. (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 16. Jacobsen, W.B.G. (1983). The Ferns and Fern Allies of Southern Africa. Butterworths, Durban and Pretoria. Pages 213 - 314. (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 10. Roux, J.P. (2001). Conspectus of Southern African Pteridophyta. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report 13 Page 83. (Includes a picture). Roux, J.P. (2009). Synopsis of the Lycopodiophyta and Pteridophyta of Africa, Madagascar and neighbouring islands Page 74. Schelpe, E.A.C.L.E. (1970). Pteridophyta Flora Zambesiaca Page 94. (Includes a picture). Wursten, B., Timberlake, J. & Darbyshire, I. (2017). The Chimanimani Mountains: an updated checklist. Kirkia 19(1) Page 78.

Other sources of information about Vittaria isoetifolia:

Our websites:

Flora of Mozambique: Vittaria isoetifolia
Flora of Zimbabwe: Vittaria isoetifolia

External websites:

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