Asplenium elliottii C.H. Wright (1908: 262)

Fischer, Eberhard & Lobin, Wolfram, 2023, Synoptic Revision of Aspleniaceae (Asplenium, Hymenasplenium) of Rwanda, Phytotaxa 608 (1), pp. 1-65 : 16

Asplenium elliottii C.H. Wright (1908: 262) .

Holotype: — KENYA. Nyeri County: Aberdare Range , at about 2800 m, 3 February 1906, C.F.Elliott s.n. (K000423896!).

Specimens seen—Western Province: Gishwati-Mukura NP, Gikungu , vallée de la Sebeya, Préfecture Gisenyi (= Rubavu), 2 November 1974, G.Troupin 15505 ( BR0000015497451 ) ; Gikungu , vallée de la Sebeya. Préfecture: Gisenyi (= Rubavu), 3 November 1974, G.Troupin 15521 ( BR0000015497468 ) ; Weg Gisenyi (= Rubavu ) – Kibuye (= Karongi), km 39, Gishwati-woud, 6 February 1972, P. Van der Veken 9269BIS ( BR0000015497505 , B 20 0084589) ; Wisumo , centre forestier suisse commune Gisovu , Préfecture Kibuye (= Karongi), 31 May 1978, G.Troupin 16021 ( BR0000015497482 ) ; Mont Muzimu , Préfecture : Cyangugu (= Rusizi), 8 September 1974, O.Ubonabenshi 85 ( BR0000016326101 ) ; Forêt de Rugege (Cyangugu), au km 88 de la route Butare – Cyangugu, 24 July 1974, P.Auquier 3381 ( BR0000015497369 ) ; Forêt de Nyungwe , environs de Uwinka, Préfecture : Cyangugu (= Rusizi), 9 August 1969, G.Bouxin & M.Radoux INRS/543 ( BR0000015497383 ) ; Terrein Cyangugu (= Rusizi), heuvels tussen Mt Musimu en Mt Bigugu, 4 March 1972, P. Van der Veken 9655 ( BR0000015497512 ) ; Territ. Shangugu (= Rusizi ), Route Astrida (= Huye ) – Bukavu , vers km 93, forêt de Rugege (= Nyungwe) près d’Uwinka, 24 September 1956, G.Troupin 2601 ( BR0000015497444 ) ; Bweyeye , 5November2015, R.Richter s.n. ( BR0000026772998 V) ; Forêt de Nyungwe , Rwankuba , Préfecture Cyangugu (= Rusizi), 23 February 1972, G.Bouxin 1337 ( BR0000015497420 ) ; Forêt de Nyungwe , environs de Kamiranzovu, Préfecture Cyangugu (= Rusizi), September 1971, G.Bouxin 121 0 ( BR0000015497413 ) ; Forêt de Nyungwe , environs de Rwankuba, Préfecture Cyangugu (= Rusizi), 14 June 1971, G.Bouxin 997 ( BR0000015497406 ) ; Astrida (= Huye) – Bukavu km 100, 1961, S.C.Antun-Gupffert 902 ( BR0000015497352 ) ; Astrida (= Huye) – Bukavu ± km 60, 7 February 1960, S.C.Antun-Gupffert 687 ( BR0000015497345 ) ; Forêt de Nyungwe , environs d’Uryititi (?), Préfecture Cyangugu (= Rusizi), 24 May 1971, G.Bouxin 883 ( BR0000015497390 ) ; à 2 km de Rangiro, Préfecture Cyangugu (= Rusizi), 14 June 1978, G.Troupin 16083 ( BR0000015497499 ) ; Forêt de Nyungwe , road Pindura – border with Burundi, km 28, 27 July 1974, J. Rammeloo 4077 ( BR0000015497437 , B 20 0085130) . Kigali Province : Ganzu , Bois Sacré, Kigali, September 1933, A.Becquet 786 ( BR0000015497376 ) .

First recorded for Rwanda: — Brause & Hieronymus (1910: 8) as Asplenium chlaenopteron auct. non Fée.

Habitat: —Terrestrial in montane forest, elev. 1900–2600 m.

Distribution in Rwanda:—Western Province: Gishwati-Mukura NP, Nyungwe NP. Kigali Province: Kigali.

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

Note: —The name Asplenium chlaenopteron Fée (1852: 194) from Mauritius and Réunion was placed in the synonymy of A. boltonii ( Tardieu-Blot 2008, see also Viane 2021: 152). But as the type bears no gemmae, it has been correctly regarded as a synonym of A. anisophyllum Kunze (1836: 511) by Roux (2009). However, A. anisophyllum has not yet been recorded for Rwanda, and the specimens identified by Hieronymus as A. chlaenopteron represent A. elliottii .

A specimen (J.Raynal 20544, BR0000009544895! from Nyungwe NP) was identified as A. anisophyllum . Unfortunately, it lacks the frond apex and the rhizome. Thus, it cannot be identified with certainity, but we think that it also represents A. elliottii .

The specimen S.C.Antun-Gupffert 630 (BR0000015917515) from Nyungwe NP, Astrida (=Huye) – Bukavu km 60, 10 January 1960, is erroneously identified as Asplenium cancellatum . It is, however, a terrestrial and gemmiferous fern and also represents A. elliottii .