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Osmunda regalis
Selected images: Click on each image to see a larger version and details of the record View all images (19)
Photo: Bart Wursten
Morumbodzi falls, lower slopes Mt Gorongosa
Photo: Bart Wursten
Morumbodzi falls, lower slopes Mt Gorongosa
Photo: Bart Wursten
Upper Jizira River valley, Mt Gorongosa
Photo: Stefaan Dondeyne
Muhowa river, Chikukwa, Chimanimani Mts
Photo: Petra Ballings
Nhandar River below Nhancuco, lower slopes Mt Gorongosa.
Photo: Petra Ballings
Valley below Mt Pheza, Chimanimani Mts
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Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)
| Synonyms: |
Osmunda capensis C.Presl Osmunda regalis L. var. capensis (C.Presl) Milde Osmunda schelpei A.E.Bobrov Osmunda transvaalensis A.E.Bobrov |
| Common names: | Royal fern (English) |
| Frequency: | Frequent |
| Status: | Native |
| Description: |
Rhizome erect to suberect; fronds tufted, glabrous, 60-120 × 30-45 cm. Stipe up to 30 cm long. Lamina up to 1 m, bipinnate and ovate in outline. Sterile pinnules oblong-lanceolate in outline; apex rounded; base asymmetrically truncate; margin minutely serrate. Fertile pinnules situated on the end of the lamina and covered with sporangia. |
| Notes: | |
| Derivation of specific name: | regalis: regal, royal; referring to the majestic growth of the plant or to King Osmund (Osmunda) of the South Saxons |
| Habitat: | Along streams in woodland and forest with the rhizome continuously in water |
| Altitude range: | Up to 2100 m |
| Worldwide distribution: | Malawi, Mozambique, Eswatini, Lesotho, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe. Also high mountains of tropical Africa, temperate parts of Europe, Asia, America, Madagascar, Mascarene Islands |
| Mozambique distribution: | N,Z,MS |
| Growth form(s): | Lithophyte, terrestrial. |
| Endemic status: | |
| Red data list status: | |
| Insects associated with this species: | |
| Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
| Content last updated: | Friday 22 June 2012 |
| Literature: |
Burrows, J.E. (1990). Southern African Ferns and Fern Allies. Frandsen, Sandton. Pages 49 - 50. (Includes a picture). Burrows, J.E. & Burrows, S.M. (1993). An annotated check-list of the pteridophytes of Malawi Kirkia 14(1) Page 82. Burrows, J.E. & Willis, C.K. (eds) (2005). Plants of the Nyika Plateau Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 31 SABONET, Pretoria Page 38. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 41. Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 27. 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 12. 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. 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 8. Roux, J.P. (2001). Conspectus of Southern African Pteridophyta. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report 13 Page 36. (Includes a picture). Schelpe, E.A.C.L.E. (1970). Pteridophyta Flora Zambesiaca Pages 44 - 46. (Includes a picture). Wursten, B., Timberlake, J. & Darbyshire, I. (2017). The Chimanimani Mountains: an updated checklist. Kirkia 19(1) Page 79. |
Other sources of information about Osmunda regalis:
Our websites:
Flora of Burundi: Osmunda regalisFlora of Malawi: Osmunda regalis
Flora of Zambia: Osmunda regalis
Flora of Zimbabwe: Osmunda regalis
External websites:
African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Osmunda regalisAfrican Plant Database: Osmunda regalis
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Osmunda regalis
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Osmunda regalis
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Osmunda regalis
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Osmunda regalis
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Osmunda regalis
JSTOR Plant Science: Osmunda regalis
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Osmunda regalis
Plants of the World Online: Osmunda regalis
Tropicos: Osmunda regalis
Wikipedia: Osmunda regalis
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