Some of the formatting may be off in this Journal Post and the line drawing not present either.
Contact me and I'll email the Word doc version to you.
With huge thanks to John!
........................................................................
John Burrows’ Fern Key of Sept 1999
I’ve left it as is, but added in
names in current use in blue in the checklist & added hashtags in the key.
Enjoy!
Sandra Falanga
February 2023
The Southern Cape Fern Identification Course
Southern Cape Herbarium
17th-19th September 1999
John Burrows
........................................................................................
What is a fern?
A fern is a plant belonging to the Class Filicales in the Division Pteridophyta.
(A few other pteridophytes are not true ferns - they belong to other, slightly more primitive classes, e. g. Lycopodiales, Isoetales, etc. and are generally referred to as Fern-allies.)
Pteridophytes are primitive plants placed between the even more primitive mosses & liverworts and the more advanced gymnosperms (conifers and cycads).
Pteridophytes do not bear flowers or seeds but reproduce by means of spores.
Pteridophytes are all typified by:
An alternation of generations whereby a spore germinates to form a small. independent,
plate-like gametophyte (n) (or prothallus).
On the prothallus sexual reproduction takes place (fusion of gametes) to form a zygote (2n) which develops to form the sporophyte (2n), the true fern sporeling.
Initially the sporophyte is dependent upon the gametophyte or prothallus, but it soon develops its own roots and grows into a large, independent fern (or fern-ally).
When the pteridophyte plant is mature, it produces spore mother-cells which divide asexually to form spores (n).
True ferns are typified by:
- The new leaves (fronds) unfurling in a typical crozier or fiddle-head, termed circinate vernation.
- Spores borne in sporangia which are often clustered into sori.
..........................................................................................................................
A Check-List of the
Ferns & Fern Allies of the Southern Cape
(Names in current use added in blue)
FERN ALLIES:
Lycopodiaceae
Lycopodium carolinianum var. caroliniamum - Pseudolycopodiella carolianum
Lycopodium cernuum – Lycopodiella cernua – Palhinaea cernua
Lycopodium clavatum
Lycopodium complanatum subsp. zanclophyllum – Lycopodium zanclophyllum
Lycopodium gnidioides – Huperzia gnidioides Phlegmariurus gnidioides
Lycopodium saururus - Phlegmariurus saururus
Selaginellaceae
Selaginella caffrorum
Selaginella kraussiana
Selaginella pygmaea
Isoetaceae
Isoetes capensis (S.W.Cape only)
Equisetaceae
Equisetum ramosissimum
Ophioglossaceae
Ophioglossum gracile
Ophioglossum nudicaule
Ophioglossum polyphyllum
TRUE FERNS (Class: Filicales)
Marattiaceae
Marattia fraxinea var. salicifolia
Osmundaceae
Osmunda regalis
Todea barbara
Gleicheniaceae
Gleichenia polypodioides
Schizaeaceae
Schizaea pectinata
Schizaea tenella
Mohria caffrorum – Anemia caffrorum
Mohria vestita – Anemia vestita
Marsileaceae
Marsilea burchellii
Marsilea capensis
Marsilea schelpeana
Salviniaceae
*Salvinia molesta
Azollaceae
*Azolla filiculoides
Cyatheaceae
Cyathea capensis – Alsophila capensis
Hymenophyllaceae
Hymenophyllum marlothii – Hymenophyllum aeriginosum
Hymenophyllym peltatum
Hymenophyllum tunbrigense
Hymenophylum capense
Trichomanes melanotrichum – Crepidomanes melanotrichum
Dennstaedtiaceae
Blotiella glabra
Blotiella natalensis
Histiopteris incisa
Hypolepis sparsisora
Pteridium aquilinum subsp. aquilinum capense
Vittariaceae
Vittaria isoetifolia
Pteridaceae
Adiantum aethiopicum
Adiantum capillus-veneris
*Adiantum raddianum
Cheilanthes bergiana
Cheilanthes capensis
Cheilanthes contracta
Cheilanthes hastata
Cheilanthes hirta
Cheilanthes involuta var. involuta
Cheilanthes multifida subsp. multifida
Cheilanthes parviloba
Cheilanthes viridis var. viridis
Cheilanthes viridis var. glauca
Cheilanthes viridis var. macrophylla
Doryopteris concolor (syn. Cheilanthes concolor)
Pellaea calomelanos
Pellaea leucomelas
Pellaea pteroides
Pellaea rufa
Pteris buchananii
Pteris cretica
Pteris dentata
Pleris vittata
Grammitidaceae
Grammitis poeppigiana
Polypodiaceae
Pleopeltis schraderi
Pleopeltis macrocarpa
X Pleopodium simiamum – Pleopeltis x simiana
Polypodium ensiforme
Polypodium vulgare
Davalliaceae
*Nephrolepis exaltata
Aspleniaceae
Asplenium adiantum-nigrum var. adiantum-nigrum
Aplenium adiantum-nigrum var. solidum
Asplenium aethiopicum
Asplenium erectum var. erectum
Asplenium erectum var. usambarense
Asplenium X flexuosum
Asplenium gemmiferum
Asplenium lobatum var. lobatum
Asplenium lunulatum
Asplenium monanthes
Asplenium platyneuron
Asplenium protensum
Asplenium rutifolium
Asplenium simii
Asplenium theciferum var. concinnum
Ceterach cordatum - Asplenium cordatum
Thelypteridaceae
Thelypteris bergiana – Amauropelta bergiana var. bergiana
Thelypteris confluens
Thelypteris guenziana – Christella gueinziana
Thelypteris interrupta – Cyclosorus interruptus
Thelypteris knysnaenis – Amauropelta knysnaensis
Thelypteris pozoi – Stenogramma pozoi
Athyriaceae
Cystopteris fragilis
Lomariopsidaceae
Elaphoglossum acrostichoides
Elaphoglossum angustatum
Dryopteridaceae
Dryopteris callolepis – Dryopteris antarctica
Dryopteris inaequalis
Megalastrum lanuginosum (syn. Ctenitis lanuginosa)
Polysticum incongruum common forest species
Polystichum monticola northern mountains
Polysticum pungens uncommon in Southern Cape ???
Polystichum transvaalense Riviersonderend and Port Elizabeth
Polystichum wilsonii – Polystichum sinense Towerkop, Ladismith
Rumohra adiantiformis
Blechnaceae
Blechnum attenuatum var. giganteum (syn. Blechnum giganteum) – Blechnum attenuatum
Blechmum australe var. australe
Blechnum capense
Blechnum inflexum
Blechnum punctulatum var. punctulatum
Blechnum tabulare – Lomariocycas tabularis
*Cyrtomium falcatum – Cyathea cooperi – Nephrolepis spp.
..............................................................................................................
Keys to the Southern Cape members of ferns with
more than one species – Listed alphabetically
# indicates name change - refer to check list for synonyms
Adiantum
Veins of the sterile pinnules ending in the sinuses between the marginal
teeth or crenations …………………………………………………………………………………….*A. raddianum
- Veins of the sterile pinnules ending in the margınal teeth……………………………………………………… 2.
- Sori rectangular to moon-shaped……………………………………………………… A. capillus-veneris
2. Sori round……………………………………………………………………………………………… A. aethiopicum
Asplenium
Fronds bearing gemmae (plantlets or buds) at the tip of the fronds,
or on the stipe..........................................................................................................................2.
- Fronds with 5 to 12 pairs of pinnae. ......................................................... A. gemmiferum
- Fronds with 20 to 55 pairs of pinnae……………………………………………………..……………………...3.
- Fronds densely set with fine hairs below…………….…………………………. A. protensum
3. Fronds glabrous below or with few scales…………………………………………………...…… 4.
- Fronds with only one (rarely 2) oval sori per pinna,
sometimes gemmiferous on the stipe ……......................... A. monanthes
4. Fronds with three or more elongate sori per pinna,
gemmiferous at the frond apex…………………………………..…. A. lunulatum
Fronds without gemmae…………………………………………………………….……………………………………………5.
- Fronds pinnate to 2-pinnatifid
- Fronds very narrow, linear……………………………………………………....…… A. platyneuron
- Fronds lanceolate to ovate or elliptic..................................................................... 7.
- Pinnae simple or the basal lobe incised,
margins serrate ................................................................. A. erectum
- Pinnae pinnatifid or deeply incised ....................................... A. X flexuosum
- Fronds 2-pinnate to 4-pinnatifid……………………………………………………………………………….…….8.
- Venation flabellate (fan-shaped) ............................................................................9.
- Rhizome with black scales,
fronds 2-pinnatifid to 2-pinnate. ............................................... A. simii
- Rhizome scales rusty-brown to dark brown,
fronds 2-pinnate to 4-pinnatifid…………………………….…… A. aethiopicum
- Venation pinnate ……………………………………………………………………………………………..…10.
- Rhizome creeping with
closely-spaced fronds ............................................ A. adiantum-nigrum
- Rhizome erect with tufted fronds ……………………………….....11.
- Ultimate segments (pinnules) rhombic to deltate;
margins coarsely serrated. .........................,,............... A. lobatum
- Ultimate segments (lobes) spathulate or club-shaped,
margins entire……………………………………………………………….……….12.
- Sori cup-shaped,
borne at the end of the lobes ........ A. theciferum
- Sori linear, elongate, borne on the side margin
of the ultimate lobes………………………..A. rutifolium
Blechnum
- Pinnae adnate to the rachis (united to it completely)……………………………………………..…………………………2.
- Basal pinnae reduced but not decrescent; fertile fronds much
smaller than the sterile frond………………………………………………………..………………….B. inflexum
- Basal pinnae longly decrescent; fertile fronds equal to, or longer
than, the sterile fronds……………………………………………………….…B. attenuatum var. giganteum - #Blechnum attenuatum
- Pinnae free, petiolate, or only partially adnate to the rachis ................................................................3.
- Sterile pinnae margin obviously serrate……………………………………………….………………….B. capense
- Sterile pinnae margin entire to the naked eye ...........................................................................4.
- Plants large, robust with a thick trunk-like stem; pinnae thick
and stiff, sterile pinnae unequally adnate-cuneate ................................. B. tabulare # Lomariocycas tabulare
- Plants not robust, stem not large and trunk-like; the basal pinnae
always with a petiole…………………………………………………………………………….…..………….. 5.
- Apex of the pinnae mucronate (with a small spine); margin bearing
minute transparent teeth, indusium jagged ................................. B. australe
- Apex of the pinnae acute to attenuate, margin without teeth;
indusium ± entire ………………..….…. Blechnum punctulatum var. punctulatum
Blotiella
- Rhizome erect, massive, with tufted fronds ....................................................................... B. natalensis
- Rhizome creeping, massive, with closely-spaced fronds ………………………………………………… … B. glabra
Cheilanthes
- Fronds clearly bearing slender scales, hairs or sticky glands .................................................................2.
- Fronds broadly triangular, fern of deeply shaded forest floors ................................ C. bergiana
- Fronds ovate to narrowly lanceolate .........................................................................................3.
- Fronds glabrous but distinctly sticky-glandular ............................................. C. parviloba
- Fronds hairy………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…….4.
- Rhizome creeping with spaced fronds, hairs ± flattened……………….. C. contracta
- Rhizome erect with tufted fronds, hairs ± erect ...................................... C. hirta
- Fronds (excluding the stipe and rachis) glabrous or nearly so ...............................................................5.
- Marginals sori linear, continuous……………………………………………………………………………………………6.
- Fronds pinnate to deeply 2-pinnatifid, in fynbos only………………………………… C. hastata
- Fronds 2-pinnatifid to 5-pinnate; in forest, grassland or fynbos ………………….…………….. 7.
- Stipe set with numerous scales at maturity ......................................... C. involuta
- Stipe glabrous, or with a few scattered scales, at maturity ..................... C. viridis
- Marginal sori discrete, discontinuous …………………………………………………………………….……………….8.
- Frond up to 3-pinnatifid ………………………………………………………………….….……….. C. capensis
- Frond 4- to 5-pinnatifid ………………………………………………………………….….……….. C. multifida
Dryopteris
- Frond set with scattered hair-like scales below……………………………………………………….. D. inaequalis
- Frond glabrous below……………………………………………………………………………………………….. D. callolepis #
Elaphoglossum
- Frond apex acuminate, midrib grooved above when fresh………………………………….E. acrostichoides
- Frond apex acute to rounded; midrib convex above when fresh. ........................... E. angustatum
Hymenophyllum
- Fronds covered in fine hairs ………………………………………………………………………………….… H. marlothii #
- Fronds without hairs …………………………………………………………………………………………………….……………2.
- Frond lobe margins entire (not serrated)……………………………………………………….. H. capense
- Frond lobes finely serrated (use a hand lens) ....................................................................3.
- Valves (lips) enclosing the sori entire (not serrated)…………………………… H. peltatum
3. Valves (lips) enclosing the sori finely serrated ……………………………… H. tunbrigense
Lycopodium (see Lycopodiella & Huperzia)
- Stems erect or pendulous, sporangia bearing leaves of much the same size
and shape as the foliage leaves and not borne on a bare stalk………………………………………….………..2.
- Stems erect, plants terrestrial or lithophytic, on mountain peaks ………..……………L. saururus #
- Stems erect (lithophytic) or pendulous (epiphytic), usually in forest ............... L. gnidioides #
- Stems creeping or erect, sporangia-bearing leaves smaller than the foliage
leaves, often forming small cone-like structures on bare stalks ……………………………….……..…..….... 3.
- Plants moss-like, stems appressed to the ground, producing only bare
fertile branches which bear cones…………………………………………………….….… L. carolinianum #
- Plants not moss-like, branches erect, sometimes forming secondary stems ..........................4.
- Plant bearing an erect main stem and Christmas tree-like branches,
each terminating in a downward-facing 'cone.'……………………….….…... L. cernuum #
- Plants forming tangled mats, branching simple, erect, not as above
cones borne on long erect stalk. ............................................................................5.
- Leaves hair-pointed, erect stems not laterally compressed…………. L. clavatum
- Leaves not hair-pointed, erect stems laterally compressed .... L. complanatum
Marsilea
- Sporocarps held upwards at an oblique angle of 115-130° from the stalk .....................M. schelpeana
- Sporocarps facing downwards or held at right-angles to the stalk ......................................................2.
- Sporocarps ± round in outline…………………………………………………………………………….…M. burchelli
- Sporocarps ± rectangular in outline………………………………………………………… .…………. M. capensis
Mohria (Anemia)
Fertile frond stipe significantly longer than the sterile frond stipe; upper
pinnae surface with hairs only…………………………………………………………………………………. M. caffrorum #
Fertile and sterile frond stipes of near equal length; upper pinnae surface
glabrous or with hairs and/or scales, especially along secondary rachises ….......... M. vestita #
.
Ophioglossum
Fertile spike arising from the base of the sterile blade…………………………………………………………………. 2.
Rhizome crowned with the remains of old leaf bases (stipes)……………………... O. polyphyllum
Rhizome lacking old, persistent leaf bases………………………………………….………………….O. gracile
Fertile spike arising from about half way along the stipe or leaf stalk …………………………. O. nudicaule
Pellaea
- Rhizome scales of uniform reddish-brown colour; in semi-arid mountains……………………………… P. rufa
- Rhizome scales light brown with a blackish central stripe ..................................................................2.
- Stipe and rachis round in cross-section. ............................................................ P. calomelanos
- Stipe and rachis grooved in cross-section ……………………………………………………………………………3.
- Pinnules ovate; indusium discontinuous, jagged……………………………………… P. pteroides
- Pinnules round to hastate; indusium continuous, entire ………………………. P. leucomelas
Pleopeltis
- Rhizome slender, widely creeping with widely-spaced fronds;
fronds with minute round peltate scales ................................................................ P. macrocarpa
- Rhizome stout, shortly creeping; fronds tufted, lacking small peltate scales ……………….. P. schraderi
Polypodium
- Rhizome scales black to dark brown; frond with 2-5 pairs of lobes:
an epiphytic fern of forests ………………………………………………………………………..………….. P. ensiforme
- Rhizome scales pale brown; frond with 5-10 pairs of lobes; usually
lithophytic on rocky mountain peaks ……………………………………………………….……………….. P. vulgare
Polystichum
Rhizome short, erect to suberect, mostly unbranched ………………………………………………………………… 2.
- Fronds to 1.5m long; conspicuously larger scales wrinkled and
mostly confined to the stipe …………………………………………………….……………… P. transvaalense
- Fronds to 1.05 m long: conspicuously larger scales never
wrinkled, extending along the rachis ……………………………………………………………..……P. wilsonii #
- Rhizome short decumbent to widely creeping, mostly branched ……………………………………………………. 3.
- Proximal acroscopic pinnule up to 22 mm long; larger stipe
base scales often discolourous (bicoloured) ………………………………………………….. P. monticola
- Proximal acroscopic pinnules usually more than 22 mm long;
larger stipe base scales never discolorous ……………………………………………………………………….4.
- Pinnules ovate to narrowly trullate*, up to 60 x 13 mm;
sporangium stalk and indusium with or without
glandular hairs …………………………………………………………………………….. P. incongruum
- Pinnules ovate, ovate-oblong, ovate-rhomboid to trullate*,
up to 50 x 19 mm; sporangium stalk and indusium
always without glands................................................................………….P. pungens
*trullate: shaped like a builder's trowel.
Pteris
- Upper frond pinnate (pinnae simple, not pinnatifid) .......................................................................... 2.
- Lower pinnae all simple, gradually reducing in size ......................................................P. vittata
- Lower pair of pinnae with 1-2 pairs of basal pinnules ................................................. P. cretica
- Upper frond pinnatifid to 3-pinnatifid ...................................................................................................3.
- Rhizome slender, widely creeping; frond broadly triangular ............................................ P. buchananii
- Rhizome erect to procumbent, fronds tufted, ovate in outline .............................................. P. dentata
Selaginella
- Plants annual, minute and delicate, with erect stems ……………………………………………………. S. pygmaea
- Plants perennial, more robust with extensively branching ± prostrate stems …………………………………2.
- Leaves all alike, narrowly linear; soft herb of moist forest floor ………………………… S kraussiana
- Leaves dimorphic, ovate to narrowly elliptic, moss-like plant of
rocky situations, often on cliffs ......................................................................... S. caffrorum
Schizaea
- Rachis of fertile portion recurved; longest fertile pinna in the middle,
in fynbos and montane grassland, among rocks ....................................................... S. pectinata
- Rachis of fertile portion straight; longest fertile pinna at the base,
just above water level along mountain streams ………………………………………………………… S.tenella
Thelypteris (see Amauropelta & Stenogramma)
- Sori round …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….2.
- Veins of the pinna lobes with one or more pairs uniting at, or below,
the sinus between the pinna lobes. ................................................................................. 3.
- Basal pair of veins meeting at the sinus, or at least one of the pair
ending in the sinus, rhizome stout, erect ........................................... T. gueinziana #
3. Two to four basal pairs of veins uniting below the sinus,
rhizome widely creeping ……………………………………………………………….. T. interrupta
- Veins of the pinna lobes not uniting (free) at or below the sinus between
pinna lobes .......................................................................................................................... 4.
- Rhizome thin, wiry, widely creeping with widely-spaced fronds,
ovate scales borne along the lower surface of the costa ..................... T. confluens
- Rhizome erect with tufted fronds, lacking ovate scales below the costa .....................5.
- Hairs on the lower frond surface hooked ........................................ T. bergiana #
- Hairs on the lower frond surface straight ………………………….….... T. knysnaensis #
- Sori elongate or oval.................................................................................................................. T. pozoi #
