Syn.: Acrostichum marantae L., Gymnogramme marantae (L.) Mett., Cheilantes marantae (L.) Domin, Paraceterach marantae (L.) R. M. Tryon
Family: Adiantaceae (C. Presl) Ching
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.
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).
These images were taken in Czechia, Moravia, Mohelenská hadcová step (September 22, 2003).
