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ADUMBRATIO FLORAE AETHIOPICAE

1956; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 12; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1080/00837792.1956.10669658

2169-4060

R. E. G. Pichi‐Sermolli,

Bryophyte Studies and Records

SUMMARY The Ethiopian species of Hymenophyllaceae, Negripteridaceae and Cyatheaceae are three, viz Vandenboschia melanotricha (Schlecht.) Pic.Ser., Negripteris scioana (Chiov.) Pic.Ser., and Cyathea manniana Hook. The most interesting results of my study are the following: The author and the bibliographical reference for each of the family names Hymenophyllaceae and Cyatheaceae are established. The genus Trichomanes is typified on Trichomanes crispum L., and thus the only hymenophyllaceous species from Ethiopia is referred to the genus Vandenboschia and the new combination of names for it is proposed. On the basis of the study of original material the characteristics which distinguish it from Vandenboschia pyxidifera (L.) Copel, are pointed out. A new locality on the Ethiopia-Kenya border is recorded for Negripteris scioana. This considerably enlarges the range of this species in Tropical East Africa. The study of the group of Cyathea manniana and allied species, as well as the examination of a rich herbarium material have allowed me to come to the conclusion that Cyathea usambarensis Hieron., Cyatliea Sellae Pirotta, Cyathea Engleri Hieron., and Cyathea Laurentiorum Christ are conspecific with Cyathea manniana. On the contrary, Cyathea Deckenii Kuhn is a distinct species, localized in Kilimanjaro and apparently very rare. The characteristics which distinguish it from Cyathea manniana are established. The specimens from Ethiopia and Tropical East Africa referred to Cyathea Deckenii belong mostly to Cyathea manniana; a small number of them is to be regarded as a new and undescribed species not present in Ethiopia. From the phytogeographical point of view it is interesting to point out that Vandenboschia and Cyathea, like other genera of flowering plants and ferns, attain in Southern Ethiopia the northern limit of their range in East Africa, which lies for all of them at a latitude of 60–70 N. No new taxon is described, but the following new combination is established: Vandenboschia melanotrica (Schlecht.) Pic.Ser. [Trichomanes melanotrichum Schlecht.].