Asplenium majus (Hieron.) Pichi Sermolli (1983a: 134)

Fischer, Eberhard & Lobin, Wolfram, 2023, Synoptic Revision of Aspleniaceae (Asplenium, Hymenasplenium) of Rwanda, Phytotaxa 608 (1), pp. 1-65 : 21

publication ID	https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.608.1.1
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8248986
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/8D3A87D0-FFD5-5114-FF5D-FB5DFF49B83D
treatment provided by	Plazi (2023-08-15 09:53:24, last updated 2023-11-09 19:21:32)
scientific name	Asplenium majus (Hieron.) Pichi Sermolli (1983a: 134)
status

Treatment

Asplenium majus (Hieron.) Pichi Sermolli (1983a: 134) View in CoL ( Fig. 7 View FIGURE 7 , 8 View FIGURE 8 ).

Asplenium goetzei var. major Hieron. View in CoL (in Brause & Hieronymus 1910: 19).

Lectotype (designated by Pichi Sermolli 1983a: 134):— RWANDA. NO Kiwu, Karisimbi , Südkrater, 3300 m. Senecio u. Ericaceenbusch, November 1907, J.Mildbraed 1590 (B 20 0056654!).

Specimens seen:— Northern Province: Préfecture Ruhengeri (= Musanze), Parc des Volcans, Bisoke, bords du Lac, 3711 m, 13 February 1935, G.de Witte 2243 (BR0000024680783, BR0000024680837); Bisoke, 3620 m, op de bemoste Senecio stammen, 13 February 1972, P. Van der Veken 9366 (BR0000024680745); Sabinyo, flanc sud, 3359 m, epiphyte sur Philippia (= Erica ), 3350 m, 25 February 1972, P.Bamps 3236 (BR000024680790); Sabinyo, alt. 2820 m, 28 July 1974, P. Van der Veken PV 10409 (B 20 0084647); Sabinyo, alt. 2820 m, 28 July 1974, P. Van der Veken 10410bis (B 20 0085109, B 20 0084618); Muhavura (= Muhabura) flanc W, 3500 m, 1 August 1974, P. Van der Veken 10572 (BR0000024680752).

First recorded for Rwanda: — Brause & Hieronymus (1910: 19) as Asplenium goetzei var. majus .

Habitat: —Epiphyte on Erica , Dendrosenecio or Hagenia , elev. 2820–3711 m.

Distribution in Rwanda:—Northern Province: Volcano NP, Karisimbi, Bisoke, Sabinyo, Muhabura.

General distribution: —Africa: D.R. Congo, Rwanda, Tanzania.

Note: — Beentje (2008: 50) considers Asplenium majus as a synonym of A. actiniopteroides Peter (1929: 40) . We follow the opinion of Pichi Sermolli (1983a, 1985) and Viane (2021) and regard them as separate species.

Asplenium majus can easily be recognized by the dense viscid glands and the ovate-acuminate rhizome scales with broad base, an acuminate apex and a fimbriate margin (versus lanceolate rhizome scales not distinctly wider in Asplenium actiniopteroides ) ( Fig. 8 C, D View FIGURE 8 ).

The presence of false veins on the lamina has already been stated by Hieronymus (in Brause & Hieronymus 1910). Chaerle & Viane (2004) made a systematic overview of false veins in a group of African high mountain (2000–4700 m) Asplenium species. False veins are narrow elongated abaxial epidermal cells running from the sinuses between marginal teeth towards the junction of two real veins, and lacking a vascular bundle ( Chaerle & Viane 2004). In A. actiniopteroides , A. goetzei Hieronymus (1900: 343) , A. majus and A. uhligii Hieronymus (1911: 374) real false veins occur, extending from the sinus to the junction of two real veins ( Chaerle & Viane 2004). In A. mildbraedii Hieron. in Brause & Hieronymus (1910: 2) the false vein is present from the sinus onwards, but does not reach the junction of two real veins, and in A. volkensii Hieronymus (1895: 83) false veins are absent.

References

Beentje, H. J. (2008) Aspleniaceae. In: Beentje, H. J. & Ghazanfar, S. A. (eds.) Flora of Tropical East Africa. A. A. Balkema, Rotterdam, 75 pp.

Brause, G. & Hieronymus, G. (1910) Polypodiaceae. In: Mildbraed, J. (ed.) Wissenschaftliche Ergebnisse der deutschen Zentral-Afrika Expedition 1907 - 1908 unter Fuhrung Adolf Friedrichs, Herzogs zu Mecklenburg 2. Klinkhardt & Biermann, Leipzig, pp. 2 - 36.

Chaerle, P. & Viane, R. (2004) Leaf anatomy and the occurrence of false veins in Asplenium. (Aspleniaceae, Pteridophyta). Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 145: 187 - 194. https: // doi. org / 10.1111 / j. 1095 - 8339.2003.00272. x

Hieronymus, G. (1895) Pteridophyta. In: Engler, A. (ed.) Die Pflanzenwelt Ost-Afrikas und der Nachbargebiete. Teil C. Verzeichnis der bis jetzt aus Ost-Afrika bekannt gewordenen Pflanzen. Berlin. pp. 77 - 91.

Hieronymus, G. (1900) Filicales. In: Engler, A. III. Die von W. Goetze und Dr. Stuhlmann im Ulugurugebirge, sowie die von W. Goetze in der Kisaki- und Khutu-Steppe und in Uhehe gesammelten Pflanzen. Botanische Jahrbucher fur Systematik und Pflanzengeographie 28: 339 - 349.

Hieronymus, G. (1911) Polypodiacearum species novae vel non satis cognitae africanae. Botanische Jahrbucher fur Systematik und Pflanzengeographie 46: 345 - 404.

Peter, A. F. (1929) Flora von Deutsch-Ostafrika. Zusammenstellung der in Deutsch-Ostafrika beobachteten farnartigen Gewachse und Blutenpflanzen. Repertorium specierum novarum regni vegetabilis Beihefte 40.

Pichi Sermolli, R. E. G. (1983 a) Fragmenta Pteridologiae - VIII. Webbia 37 (1): 111 - 140. https: // doi. org / 10.1080 / 00837792.1983.10670267

Pichi Sermolli, R. E. G. (1985) A Contribution to the Knowledge of the Pteridophyta of Rwanda, Burundi, and Kivu (Zaire) II. Bulletin du Jardin botanique National de Belgique / Bulletin van de Nationale Plantentuin van Belgie 55 (1 / 2): 123 - 206. https: // doi. org / 10.2307 / 3668014

Viane, R. L. L. (2021) Aspleniaceae of Madagascar. A revision with annotations from the Mascarenes, the Comoros, TAAF, and continental Africa. University Press Wachtebeke, 247 pp.

Figures

FIGURE 7. Asplenium majus.—A. Habit.—B. Frond.—C, E, F. Detail of fronds.—D. Rhizome. Photographs: E.Fischer, A, B, C. Karisoke; D. Karisimbi; E. Humbert 8569; F. Humbert 8086. Scale bars:A, B. 5 cm; C. 1 cm; D, E, F. 1 mm. Reproduced with permission from BR (Meise).