201.400 Asplenium L.

Crouch, N.R., Klopper, R.R., Burrows, J.E. & Burrows, S.M. (2011) Ferns of Southern Africa, A comprehensive guide Struik Nature

Jacobsen, W.B.G. (1983) The Ferns and Fern Allies of Southern Africa. Butterworths, Durban and Pretoria.

Roux, J.P. (2001) Conspectus of Southern African Pteridophyta. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report 13

Schelpe, E.A.C.L.E. (1970) Pteridophyta Flora Zambesiaca

Description of the genus

Epiphytic, lithophytic or terrestrial plants. Rhizome creeping, suberect or erect, short or long , often stoloniferous, with scales. Stipe not articulated to the rhizome; black, castaneous or greyish-green; hairless or with hairs or scales. Fronds monomorphic, widely spaced or tufted, simple to 4-pinnatifid; with or without a proliferous bud at or near the lamina apex; veins free or anastomosing at the margins. Sori linear (in ours), elongated and dorsally along a vein or shortened and near marginal; indusium narrow or rudimentary.

Derivation of name: a splen means without a spleen; it was thought that the plants could reduce an enlarged spleen.

Worldwide: c. 700 species, cosmopolitan.

DRC: 41 taxa.

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Links to taxa:     View: living plant images - herbarium specimen images - all images for this genus

SpeciesBotanical divisionsContent
abyssinicum FéeDescription
actiniopteroides PeterDescription
adiantum-nigrum L. subsp. adiantum-nigrum Description
aethiopicum (Burm. f.) Bech. [Agg]Description, Image
africanum Desv.Description, Image
angolense BakerDescription
anisophyllum KunzeDescription, Image
barteri Hook.Description
blastophorum Hieron.Description, Image
boltonii Hook. ex Brause & Hieron.Description, Image
buettneri Hieron.Description, Image
bugoiense Hieron.Description
burundense Pic.Serm.Description
cancellatum AlstonDescription
ceii Pic.Serm.Description, Image
centrafricanum Pic.Serm.
chaseanum SchelpeDescription
christii Hieron.Description, Image
diplazisorum Hieron.Description
dregeanum KunzeDescription, Image
elliottii C.H.WrightDescription
goetzei Hieron.Description
hemitomum Hieron.Description
lambinonii Pic.Serm.Description
laurentii J. Bommer ex H. ChristDescription
markusbeckeri Eb.Fisch. & LobinDescription
mildbraedii Hieron.Description
musiraense Viane
preussii Hieron. ex BrauseDescription, Image
protensum Schrad.Description, Image
reekmansii Pic.Serm.Description
rukararense Hieron.Description
rutifolium (P.J. Bergius) KunzeDescription, Image
sandersonii Hook.Description, Image
sertularioides BakerDescription
smedsii Pic. Serm.Description, Image
stuhlmannii Hieron.Description, Image
tenuicaudatum Pic.Serm.Description
theciferum Humb., Bonpl. & KunthDescription, Image
uhligii Hieron.Description
uschiae Eb. Fisher & LobinDescription

Other sources of information about Asplenium:

Our websites:

Flora of Botswana: Asplenium
Flora of Burundi: Asplenium
Flora of Malawi: Asplenium
Flora of Mozambique: Asplenium
Flora of Rwanda: Asplenium
Flora of Zambia: Asplenium
Flora of Zimbabwe: Asplenium
Flora of Zimbabwe: cultivated Asplenium

External websites:

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

Copyright: The DRC flora team, 2024-25

The DRC flora team (2025). Flora of the Democratic Republic of the Congo: Genus page: Asplenium.
https://www.drcongoflora.com/speciesdata/genus.php?genus_id=86, retrieved 17 December 2025

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