Asplenium uhligii Hieronymus (1911: 374)

Fischer, Eberhard & Lobin, Wolfram, 2023, Synoptic Revision of Aspleniaceae (Asplenium, Hymenasplenium) of Rwanda, Phytotaxa 608 (1), pp. 1-65 : 46

Asplenium uhligii Hieronymus (1911: 374) ( Figs. 23–25 ).

Holotype: — TANZANIA. Kilimandscharo. über Kiboscho , c. 3200 m. feuchte niedere Ĥhle überm Urwald, von der Decke herabhängend, 24 October 1901, C.Uhlig 194 (B 20 0024534!).

Specimens seen:— Northern Province: Volcano NP, Kareba, versant sud du Karisimbi , alt. env. 3200 m, étage à Hagenia , 10 October 1974, P.Auquier 4520 ( BR0000024680196 ) ; Karisimbi (versant Sud), riv. Bikuri , 3000 m, 28 February 1935, G.de Witte 2267 ( BR0000024680806 ) ; volcan Bisoke, bords Lac, 3770 m, 13 February 1935, G.de Witte 2235 ( BR0000024680820 ) ; Bisoke 3700 m, 20 June 1961, S.C.Antun Gupffert 1049 ( BR0000016327436 ) .

First recorded for Rwanda: — Pichi Sermolli (1985: 136) as A. kassneri auct. non Hieronymus (1911: 376).

Habitat: —Epiphyte in Hagenia – Hypericum forest, ericaceous shrub and Dendrosenecio -Paramo, elev. 3200– 3500 m.

Distribution in Rwanda:—Northern Province: Volcano NP, Karisimbi, Bisoke, Gahinga.

General distribution: —Africa: Cameroon, Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania.

Note: — Asplenium uhligii auct. non Hieron. was listed by Roux (2009) for Madagascar. This taxon was originally described as A. nigrocoloratum Bonaparte (1925: 188) and placed by Tardieu-Blot (1958: 193) into the synonymy of A. kassneri Hieron. (1911: 376) . Viane (2021: 156) accepted A. nigrocoloratum and described a new species from this complex from Madagascar ( A. blotiae Viane 2021: 158 ). Viane (2021: 159) also gives a key to the species of this group.

Asplenium kassneri is a somewhat doubtful species, as the holotype has been lost ( Viane 2021, Beentje 2008, Pichi Sermolli 1985) (see below under excluded species).

The specimens Auquier 4520 (BR0000024680196) and Auquier 2289 (BR0000024680189) from the Congolese side of Mt. Karisimbi have been identified by Pichi Sermolli 1985) as Asplenium kassneri but the rhizome scales show clearly that they belong to A. uhligii ( Fig. 24 A–F ). A. uhligii can be recognized by the presence of false veins, the lack of glands and the blackish rhizome scales that are auriculate at base (see A. kassneri and A. goetzei below).

Interestingly, Pichi Sermolli (1985) in his revision of the ferns from Kivu, Rwanda and Burundi records Asplenium kassneri auct. non Hieron., but does not even mention A. uhligii .

Figures

FIGURE 23. Asplenium uhligii.—A. Habit.—B, C. Detail of fronds.—D, E. Rhizome. Photographs: E.Fischer, Karisoke. Scale bars: A, B, C. 1 cm; D, E. 3 mm.

FIGURE 24. Asplenium uhligii. Rhizome scales—A–F. Photographs: E.Fischer. A, B. Auquier 2289; C. de Witte 2235; D–F. Karisoke. Scale bar: 1 mm.

FIGURE 25. Asplenium uhligii. Rhizome scales.—A–C, from type. Photographs: E.Fischer & W.Lobin.—Asplenium goetzei. Rhizome scales.—D–F, from type. Photographs: E.Fischer & W.Lobin. Scale bar: 1 mm.