Syn.: Acrostichum marantae L., Gymnogramme marantae (L.) Mett., Cheilantes marantae (L.) Domin, Paraceterach marantae (L.) R. M. Tryon
Family: Adiantaceae (C. Presl) Ching

Notholaena marantae

Distribution: Southern and central Europe (northward to southern Czechia), the Caucasus, southwestern Asia (eastward to the Himalayas), Ethiopia.

Ecology: It grows in sunny rock crevices, mostly on serpentinite rocks, in southwestern China rising up to 4200 m a.s.l.

Notholaena marantae

Description: Fern. The rhizome is short-creeping and densely covered with light brown scales. The leaves are 10–35 cm long, arising in groups, erect; petiole dark reddish-brown, with scattered linear-filiform scales; lamina 2–5 cm wide, linear-lanceolate, pinnate-pinnatisect, glabrous above, densely clothed with light brown or colourless scales beneath. Spores spherical.

Threat and protection: It is endangered and protected species in some European countries (e.g. Czechia, Hungary, Serbia, Ukraine).

Notholaena marantaeNotholaena marantae
Notholaena marantaeNotholaena marantae

These images were taken in Czechia, Moravia, Mohelenská hadcová step (September 22, 2003).