Histiopteris incisa (Thunb.) J.Sm.

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SRGH

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Synonyms:	Litobrochia incisa (Thunb.) C.Presl Phegopteris incisa (Thunb.) Keyserl. Pteris incisa Thunb.
Common names:
Frequency:
Status:
Description:	Rhizome subterranean, creeping, c. 6 mm diameter; scales midbrown, lanceolate, attenuate, 1-3 mm long, sometimes interspersed with brown hairs. Fronds widely spaced, glabrous on both surfaces, herbaceous, glaucus-green. Stipe up to 60 cm long, glabrous, pale brown, but darker brown with scattered scales near the base. Lamina 2 × 1 m, ovate-lanceolate in outline, deeply 3-pinnatifid. Pinnules incised almost to the costules, margins entire, ultimate lobes roughly oblong with rounded apices. A pair of reduced pinnules is present at the junction of the rhachis and secondary rhachis. Sori linear, borne along the margins but absent at the apex and in the sinuses; pseudo-indusium membranous, entire.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	incisa: incised, referring to the deeply incised pinnules.
Habitat:
Altitude range:
Worldwide distribution:	Central and tropical Africa and widespread in the southern temperate regions of the world.
Malawi distribution:	N
Growth form(s):	Terrestrial.
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. Page 103. (Includes a picture). Burrows, J.E. & Burrows, S.M. (1993). An annotated check-list of the pteridophytes of Malawi Kirkia 14(1) Page 85. Crouch, N.R., Klopper, R.R., Burrows, J.E. & Burrows, S.M. (2011). Ferns of Southern Africa, A comprehensive guide Struik Nature Pages 294 - 295. (Includes a picture). Dowsett-Lemaire, F. (1989). The flora and phytogeography of the evergreen forests of Malawi. I: Afromontane and mid-altitude forests; Bull. Jard. Bot. Nat. Belg. 59(1/2) Page 25. As Histiopteris occidentalis Jacobsen, W.B.G. (1983). The Ferns and Fern Allies of Southern Africa. Butterworths, Durban and Pretoria. Pages 206 - 207. (Includes a picture). Kornas, J. (1979). Distribution and ecology of the Pteridophytes in Zambia Polska Akademia Nauk Wydzial II Nauk Biologicznych Pages 84 - 85. 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 6. Roux, J.P. (2001). Conspectus of Southern African Pteridophyta. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report 13 Page 92. (Includes a picture). Roux, J.P. (2009). Synopsis of the Lycopodiophyta and Pteridophyta of Africa, Madagascar and neighbouring islands Page 110. Schelpe, E.A.C.L.E. (1970). Pteridophyta Flora Zambesiaca Pages 84 - 86. (Includes a picture).

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Flora of Burundi: Histiopteris incisa
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Flora of Zimbabwe: Histiopteris incisa

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African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Histiopteris incisa
African Plant Database: Histiopteris incisa
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Histiopteris incisa
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Histiopteris incisa
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iNaturalist: Histiopteris incisa
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Histiopteris incisa
JSTOR Plant Science: Histiopteris incisa
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Histiopteris incisa
Plants of the World Online: Histiopteris incisa
Tropicos: Histiopteris incisa
Wikipedia: Histiopteris incisa