Grasses, sedges, restios, rushes, ferns and fungi are unrelated botanically but have been included in a single chapter for convenience.
Grasses are members of the Gramineae family which have leaf sheaths split lengthwise on the side opposite the blade. The stem is cylindrical, and hollow between nodes. Grasses are wind-pollinated flowering plants bearing various types of inflorescences (see accompanying illustrations). These are useful for identification.
GRASS
SPIKE INFLORESCENCES
DIGITATE/FINGERLIKE INFLORESCENCES
PANICULATE/BRANCHED INFLORESCENCES
SEDGE
Sedges are members of the Cyperaceae family in which the leaf sheaths are continuous around the stem, splitting open with age. The stem is solid, and may be cylindrical or triangular. Sedges are found mostly in moist areas.
Rushes have small, wind-pollinated flowers (similar to the lily in structure) in dense clusters at the end of slender, cylindrical, hollow stems. Leaves are cylindrical or flat and hard, or reduced to a sheath. Rushes are mostly found in swampy areas.
Restios are members of the Restionaceae family. Their stems are solid and jointed, with leaves reduced to dry sheaths and nodes. Restios are largely confined to the winter rainfall area, namely the southern and southwestern Cape. This is one of the three major families (along with proteas and ericas) that constitute fynbos, taking the place of grasses in this biome. Restios are wind-pollinated. Male and female flowers occur on separate plants, often with very different appearance.
RESTIO
Ferns and their allies belong to the group Pteridophyta. They do not bear flowers and seeds, but produce windblown spores. These grow into very small green discs, or prothalli, which carry both male and female organs. The fertilised female puts down roots and a new fern plant develops (the prothallus withers away). Ferns are dependent on moisture for reproduction but some have adapted to dry environments by evolving the ability to wait for water and, where necessary, to reproduce vegetatively by means of runners. Resurrection ferns generally shrink and curl up in dry periods, unfolding in response to rain or moisture. Other species have a dormant period of a few months. A few species can survive several years without water, while some have drought-resistant spores which can survive up to 20 years without water.
Ferns provide one of the most direct links to prehistoric times. The common ancestors of club mosses (lycopods) and horsetails were most abundant worldwide about 400 million years ago and ferns were at their height over 100 million years ago. In southern Africa, there is an excellent fossil record of this prehistoric flora.
FERN
PINNA OF FERN
Fungi Mushrooms, puffballs and other fleshy fungi are the reproductive or fruiting bodies of the plant. Fungi reproduce by means of spores. These spores grow a long tube (hypha) which branches and re-branches until a web-like mycelium is formed. This is the main body of the fungus and is responsible for food and growth. It can reproduce sexually or asexually.
Unlike other plants, fungi lack chlorophyll and cannot produce their own food. Nourishment is therefore obtained from other organisms in one of three ways:
• Saprobic fungi draw food from dead or rotting plant and animal tissue
• Parasitic fungi live on live host plants or animals
• Symbiotic fungi form mutually beneficial associations with algae to form lichens: the algae create food and the fungi keep the algae moist. Symbiotic associations also exist between fungi and wood-destroying termites.
Because fungi do not derive food in the same way as most other plants, some botanists regard them as not belonging to the plant kingdom.
MUSHROOM
There are tens of thousands of species of grasses, ferns and fungi, and the descriptions in this chapter are merely a cross-section of the more commonly found species. However, readers will be able to find and identify these species in different parts of the region. It is hoped that this will initiate and encourage a basic interest which may be developed further.
The first dimension given with each description in this chapter refers to the total height of the mature plant. Other dimensions in the text are for specific parts of the plant and are clearly stated. Only the greatest dimension is given; this usually indicates length but sometimes indicates diameter. Leaf measurements refer to the length of the blade excluding the stalk. The dimensions given either consist of a range or are maximums, with smaller dimensions possible in different specimens. Where two dimensions are given for structures such as leaves or flowers, e.g. 120x140 mm, the first is the length dimension and the second the breadth.
Grasses with compact, spike-like inflorescence
Aristida congesta
1 TASSEL BRISTLEGRASS
Up to 900 mm. Perennial. Conspicuous, compact, white head (Dec–Jun). Widespread in warm dry grassland, particularly in disturbed areas. Throughout region.
Aristida junciformis
2 NGONGONI BRISTLEGRASS
Up to 900 mm. Perennial. Leaf blade narrow and wiry. Inflorescence narrow, up to 200 mm long (Nov–May). Widespread in open grassland, bushveld, fynbos, from southwest to north.
Cenchrus ciliaris
3 BLUE BUFFALO GRASS
Up to 1.2 m. Perennial. Leaves up to 10 mm wide, keeled, blue-green. Inflorescence up to 120 mm long (Aug–Apr). Bristles come away with seed, unlike Golden bristlegrass (facing page). Common in dry areas, spreading due to cultivation as pasture grass.
Elionurus muticus (=E. argenteus)
4 WIRE LEMON GRASS
Up to 1 m. Perennial. Leaves wiry, folded, curled, coppery with age (bitter lemon taste). Inflorescence up to 120 mm long, curled back when mature (Sep–May). Common in open grassland, on poor rocky soils. Eastern half of region.
Fingerhuthia africana
5 THIMBLE GRASS
Up to 900 mm, usually less. Perennial. Leaves up to 400x4 mm. Inflorescence up to 50 mm long (Sep–May). Widespread, on well-drained soils, except in some areas in east.
Harpochloa falx
6 CATERPILLAR GRASS
Up to 900 mm. Perennial. Leaves blunt-tipped, rigid. Inflorescence up to 80 mm long, curving back with age (Sep–Apr). Common in open grassland, middle to high altitude, from southwest to north.
Heteropogon contortus
7 SPEAR GRASS
Up to 700 mm. Perennial. Leaves blunt-tipped. Flowering stem flattened at base. Inflorescence up to 70 mm long (Oct–Mar), seeds barbed. Open grassland, rocky and disturbed soils. Widespread except in dry northwest.
Imperata cylindrica
8 COTTONWOOL GRASS
Up to 1.2 m. Perennial. Leaves up to 1 000x12 mm, sharp tip. Inflorescence 80–250 mm long (Aug–Jun). Common in poorly drained areas, high rainfall grassland. Widespread.
Merxmuellera disticha
9 COPPER WIRE GRASS
Up to 700 mm. Perennial. Leaves wiry, short and curved, or longer, up to 400 mm, less curved. Inflorescence up to 100 mm long, two rows of spikelets (Oct–May). Common, coast to mountain grassland, from southeast to central areas.
Perotis patens
10 CAT’S TAIL
Up to 600 mm. Annual. Leaf blade up to 12 mm wide, margin wavy, with rigid hairs. Inflorescence up to 300x25 mm (Nov–Apr). Sandy, poor soils, disturbed areas in northeast.
1 GOLDEN BRISTLEGRASS
Up to 2 m. Robust perennial. Leaves up to 400x15 mm, flat or folded. Inflorescence up to 300 mm long (Oct–May). Bristles orange, do not fall off with seeds. On damp soils in grassland and woodland, from southeast coast to interior in north.
Sporobolus africanus (=S. capensis)
2 RATSTAIL DROPSEED
Up to 1.5 m. Perennial. Leaves shiny, blade up to 400x4 mm. Inflorescence compact, narrow, up to 450 mm long (Oct–Apr). Disturbed areas, especially coast and more arid areas, also water-courses, from southwest, east to north.
Similar
BUSHVELD DROP-SEED S. fimbriatus
Stems bright yellow at base. Inflorescence whorled, open.
Tragus berteronianus
3 COMMON CARROT-SEED GRASS
Up to 300 mm. Annual. Leaves short, blade up to 5 mm wide, flattened. Inflorescence up to 100 mm long (Nov–May), spikelets covered with hooked spines. Common (weed) in disturbed areas. Widespread except southwest.
Urelytrum agropyroides (=U. squarrosum)
4 CENTIPEDE GRASS
Up to 1.6 m. Perennial. Leaves up to 300x6 mm, waxy bloom when young, bitter taste. Inflorescence up to 250 mm long, awns flattened, up to 120 mm long, bend outwards when ripe (Oct–Jun). Grassland, stony hillsides, from eastern coastal areas to north, northwest.
Grasses with digitate (finger-like) inflorescence
Chloris gayana
5 RHODES GRASS
Up to 1.5 m. Perennial (annual). Inflorescence with up to 20 stalks (Nov–May). Moist areas, on disturbed ground, grassland. Widespread from south, east to north.
Chloris virgata
6 FEATHERED CHLORIS
Up to 900 mm. Perennial (annual). Leaf up to 10 mm wide. Inflorescence with 4–15 erect stalks (Dec–Jun). Disturbed soils, almost throughout region except in fynbos.
Digitaria eriantha
7 FINGER GRASS
Up to 1 m. Perennial. Inflorescence up to 200 mm long with up to 15 stalks (Jan–Apr). Widespread.
Brachiaria serrata
8 VELVET SIGNAL GRASS
Up to 900 mm. Perennial. Leaves up to 10 mm wide, hairy, with sharp tip. Each flowering stalk up to 25 mm long (Oct–May). Open grassland, bushveld, usually on rocky ground. Widespread from southeast to north.
Oplismenus hirtellus
9 BASKET GRASS
150–800 mm. Perennial with rambling stems. Leaves up to 20 mm wide. Inflorescence up to 100 mm long, 3–7 stalks up to 30 mm long (Jan–Jun). In dense shade of forest, coast to mountains, from southeast to north.
Grasses with paniculate (branched) inflorescence
Eragrostis capensis
1 HEARTSEED LOVEGRASS
Up to 900 mm. Perennial. Leaf blade up to 100 mm long, shiny, rolled inwards. Inflorescence up to 150 mm long (Sep–Apr). Common in grassland on shallow soils, also in damp or disturbed areas, from southwest to tropical Africa.
Loudetia simplex
2 COMMON RUSSET GRASS
Up to 1,2 m. Perennial. Leaves flat or rolled. Nodes ringed with hairs. Inflorescence up to 300 mm long, awns up to 50 mm long (Nov–Jan). Open grassland, poor sandy soils in high rainfall areas, from east to northeast.
Pogonarthria squarrosa
3 HERRINGBONE GRASS
800 mm. Perennial. Leaves wiry. Inflorescence up to 300 mm long (Oct–May). Common on disturbed ground, scattered in grassland. Widespread from east to northwest.
Stipagrostis obtusa
4 SMALL BUSHMAN GRASS
Up to 600 mm. Perennial. Leaves in basal cushion, 20–200 mm long, curved, nodes black. Inflorescence up to 200 mm long, awns up to 30 mm long (Jul–May). Widespread in Karoo and Namibia, valuable grazing.
Similar
TALL BUSHMAN GRASS S. ciliata
Taller. Ring of white hairs at nodes.
Tristachya leucothrix (=T. hispida, Apochaete hispida)
5 HAIRY TRIDENT GRASS
Up to 900 mm. Perennial. Leaves up to 6 mm wide, flattened, hairy, curled. Inflorescence with hairy spikelets up to 40 mm long, awn up to 100 mm long (Oct–Mar). Open grassland, common in highland sourveld. Widespread in summer rainfall areas.
Aristida congesta subsp. barbicollis
6 WHITE STICK GRASS
Up to 600 mm. Perennial (annual). Leaves small. Much-branched flowering stems, inflorescence up to 200 mm long (Oct–May). Widespread in dry grassland, particularly in disturbed areas. Summer rainfall areas.
Eragrostis curvula
7 WEEPING LOVEGRASS
Up to 1.5 m. Perennial. Variable colour and growth forms. Leaves up to 600 mm long, narrow, rough, drooping (weeping) with age. Inflorescence much-branched, up to 300 mm long (Oct–Dec). Common in disturbed and high rainfall areas. Almost throughout the region.
Melinis repens (=Rhynchelytrum repens)
8 NATAL RED TOP
Up to 1 m. Annual. Leaves up to 11 mm wide, rough. Inflorescence up to 200 mm long (Oct–Jun). Disturbed areas, common on roadsides. Widespread.
Panicum maximum
9 GUINEA GRASS
Up to 2.5 m. Perennial. Leaves up to 30 mm wide, leaf sheath densely hairy. Inflorescence up to 400 mm long (Nov–Jul). Open woodland and damp places. Widespread except very arid areas.
Trichoneura grandiglumis
10 SMALL TUMBLE GRASS
Up to 400 mm. Perennial. Leaves short, up to 7 mm wide, flattened. Inflorescence stiff, up to 250 mm long by 300 mm wide (Dec–Jan). Open grassland, disturbed ground. Widespread in summer rainfall areas in east and northwest.
Sorghum bicolor (=S. verticilliflorum)
1 COMMON WILD SORGHUM
Up to 2.5 m. Annual. Leaf blade up to 30 mm wide. Inflorescence up to 400 mm long (Jan–Jun). Savanna, grassland, watercourses, disturbed areas, from northwest to northeast, tropical Africa to Australia.
Setaria megaphylla (=S. chevalieri)
2 BROAD-LEAVED BRISTLEGRASS
Up to 2 m. Perennial, in large clumps. Leaf blade up to 100 mm wide, pleated, margin rough. Inflorescence up to 600 mm long (Sep–Jun). Shade, moist areas, from southeast to Zimbabwe.
Andropogon eucomus
3 SNOWFLAKE GRASS
Up to 900 mm. Perennial. Lower leaves flattened. Inflorescence branched, with silvery hairs (Nov–May). Wet areas, roadsides, from southwest to Botswana and Namibia.
Cymbopogon excavatus
4 BROAD-LEAVED TURPENTINE GRASS
Up to 1.5 m. Perennial, in clumps. Leaves blue-green with waxy coating, up to 14 mm wide, broader at base. Inflorescence up to 300 mm long. Aromatic, tasting strongly of turpentine. Widespread in open grassland, from southeast to north and Botswana, Namibia.
Similar
NARROW-LEAVED TURPENTINE GRASS C. pospischilii
Narrow leaf blades. Widespread including south.
GIANT TURPENTINE GRASS C. validus
Taller (up to 2.4 m). Robust perennial, in large clumps.
Leaves up to 600 mm long by 10 mm wide with pale mid-vein. Inflorescence up to 400 mm long. Grassland, rocky mountain-sides in high rainfall areas, from southeast to north.
Hyparrhenia hirta
5 COMMON THATCH GRASS
Up to 1 m. Perennial, in dense clumps. Leaf keeled. Flowering stems woody, inflorescence up to 300 mm long, awns up to 35 mm long (Sep–Mar), reddish with age. Open grassland, stony soil, near rivers, disturbed areas. Widespread except in northwest and far north.
Themeda triandra
6 RED GRASS
300 mm to 1.8 m. Perennial. Leaves green to blue-green, reddish-brown when dry, blade up to 8 mm wide, folded, basal leaf sheaths flattened. Flowers Oct–Jul. Most common in undisturbed grassland. Widespread except parts of northwest.
Cyperus obtusiflorus
1
Up to 450 mm. Perennial herb, from rhizome. Leaves up to 200 mm long. Inflorescence up to 20 mm diameter (Oct–Feb). Widespread in grassland up to 1 370 m, common in coastal areas.
Similar
C. sphaerocephalus
2
Yellow spikelets. Found at higher altitudes.
Cyperus dives (=C. immensus)
3
Up to 2 m. Leaves stiff. Flowering stem three-angled, edges sharp. Inflorescence up to 200 mm wide (midsummer). In large colonies in wet areas, coast to mountains.
Cyperus rupestris
4
Up to 300 mm. Tufted. Leaves erect, fine, narrow, with sharp tip. Inflorescence has narrow spikes up to 20 mm long (midsummer). Roots form dense mats on rock or shallow soils. Widespread.
Kyllinga alba
5
Up to 400 mm. Slender perennial. Inflorescence white. Widespread in dry woodland, from northeast to tropical Africa.
Similar
K. alata
Inflorescence greenish-yellow. Moist areas in grassland.
Cyperus congestus
6
Up to 1.3 m. Stems three-angled. Leaves up to 10 mm wide at base. Branched inflorescence (summer). Grassland, moist areas. Widespread.
Restios: male and female flowers on separate, often very different-looking plants
Elegia capensis
7
Up to 2.5 m. Tussocks. Spathes drop off. In dense stands along streams and wet areas in fynbos.
Elegia persistens
8
Up to 500 mm. Tussocks. Fynbos.
Thamnochortus spicigerus
9 CAPE REED
Up to 2 m. In dense clumps (Jun–Aug). Sandy flats, from southwest to southeast.
Similar
COMMON REED Phragmites australis and P. mauritianus
Up to 3 m. Leaves long, flat. Panicle large, fluffy. Covering large areas of wetland, banks and shallows. Belongs to grass family, not restios. Throughout region.
Cannomois virgata
10
Up to 4 m. Tussocks, branching. Inflorescence up to 300 mm long. Streams and damp areas. Fynbos.
Rushes
Juncus kraussii
11
Up to 1.5 m. Rounded clumps. Leaves, stems tough, ending in sharp spike. Marshy areas near coast, from southeast to Mozambique.
Similar
BULRUSH Typha capensis
Up to 3 m. Long fleshy leaves. Inflorescence with chocolate-coloured, velvety female flowers with male spike above on same stem. Throughout region.
Ferns
1 CLUB MOSS
Up to 850 mm. Main stem prostrate, secondary branches erect. Tips of branches hang downwards. Common in moist areas, in light shade and full sun, from southwest to tropical Africa.
Selaginella kraussiana
2 SPREADING CLUB MOSS
Prostrate, mat-forming. High rainfall and mist forest, in shade, coast to 2 500 m. From south to tropical Africa.
Marattia fraxinea
3 PITTED POTATO FERN
Up to 2 m. Large main stem up to 1 m. Leaf stalk up to 1 m long, base swollen, blade up to 3x1.5 m, bipinnate (twice divided), (tree ferns, Cyathea, are tripinnate). Leaflets up to 170x14 mm. Sori are capsules. Deep shade, flowing streams, evergreen mist forests, from south to Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
Osmunda regalis
4 ROYAL FERN
Up to 1.5 m. Sturdy main stem up to 300 mm tall. Fronds up to 1 300x450 mm, bipinnate. Sterile leaflets up to 80x20 mm. Fertile leaflets much smaller, up to 30x3 mm. Near flowing water. Common in low altitude, warm areas, sea level to 2 000 m. From southwest to Zimbabwe. Worldwide in cool, wet areas.
Gleichenia polypodioides
5 CREEPING/CORAL FERN
Up to 800 mm. Creeping rhizome, up to 5 mm thick, fronds widely spaced. Leaf blade divided, partly incised. Disturbed high rainfall areas, common weed in Cape, less common further north, coast to 2 000 m. From south to Tanzania.
Similar
G. umbraculifera
Silvery beneath, leaflets longer, larger, not incised.
Dicranopteris linearis
Lower leaf stalks bare, more robust plant.
Mohria caffrorum
6 SCENTED FERN
Up to 800 mm. Fronds soft, erect, tufted. Leaf blade up to 460x 70 mm. Aromatic turpentine scent when crushed. Grassland, forest margins, common in wet and dry areas, coast to mountains above 2 300 m. Widespread in Africa.
Hypolepis sparsisora
7 FALSE BRACKEN
1–3 m. Fronds erect, widely spaced. Leaf stalk up to 1 m long, pale brown. Blade up to 1 000x800 mm. Evergreen mist forest. Along coast from southwest to northeast, interior in north and into tropical Africa.
Similar
BRACKEN Pteridium aquilinum
Fronds rough, hard. Leaf stalk pale green. Very large communities in grassland. Common worldwide.
Vittaria isoetifolia
8 BOOTLACE FERN
Fronds hanging, up to 900x3 mm. Creeping rhizome. Leaf stalk green. Sori in continuous line inside edge of blade. Epiphyte on old trees or on rocks in mist belt and forests in south. From southwest to Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
1 MAIDENHAIR FERN
Fronds up to 400 mm long. Stalk shiny black. Blade up to 200x180 mm. In damp areas at low altitudes, coast to 1 800 m. Widespread in Africa and the world.
Cheilanthes eckloniana
2
Up to 450 mm tall. Fronds erect. Leaf stalk shiny brown. Widespread in summer rainfall areas, sea level to 2 300 m.
Cheilanthes viridis
3 COMMON LIP FERN
Up to 900 mm. Leaf stalk up to 400 mm long, dark brown. Blade up to 500x240 mm. Variable. Forest, rocky areas, woodland, sea level to 2 000 m. Widespread.
Similar
COASTAL COMMON LIP FERN C.v. var. macrophylla
Very large leaflets. Always in moist shady areas.
Doryopteris concolor
4 GERANIUM FERN
Up to 250 mm. Blade horizontal, up to 130x120 mm. Sori in almost continuous line along edge. Moist shade in rocky areas, forest, woodland, coast to 1 650 m. Southeast to north and northeast.
Pteris vittata
5 LADDERBRAKE
Up to 1,2 m. Large tufted fronds. Stalk pale brown, blade up to 1–150x400 mm, leaflets up to 200x13 mm. Sori continuous, marginal. Damp soil near water in warm northern half of region.
Pellaea calomelas
6 HARD FERN
Up to 550 mm. Fronds tufted. Stalk shiny black, blade up to 300x400 mm, leaflets more or less triangular, thick, grey-green. Rock outcrops, coast to 1 800 m. Widespread.
Polypodium polypodioides
7
Up to 330 mm. Creeping rhizome, scales dark brown. Fronds erect or arching. Blade up to 205x65 mm, covered with scales beneath. Epiphytic on trees, also on large boulders, 200–1 700 m. Widespread in cool, moist areas. Withstands drought.
Similar
COMMON POLYPODY P. vulgare
Blade smooth on both surfaces.
Lepisorus schraderi
8 SMOOTH LANCE FERN
Up to 400 mm. Leaf stalk up to 60 mm long, creeping rhizome, black. Fronds closely spaced, blade up to 340x29 mm, evergreen. Sori in upper half to third of blade. High rainfall areas, epiphytic or lithophytic in evergreen forest or scrub, coast to 2 300 m. From south to Zimbabwe, Mozambique and tropical Africa.
Similar
Microgramma lycopodioides
Sori extend to base of blade.
Microsorium scolopendrium (=Phymatodes scolopendria)
9 OAK LEAF FERN
Up to 900 mm. Creeping rhizome up to 10 mm thick, fronds widely spaced. Stalk light brown, blade up to 450x300 mm, lobes up to 30 mm wide, fertile frond lobes much narrower. Dune and coastal forest, low altitude woodland, riverine forest, from southeast coast to Zimbabwe and tropical Africa.
Microsorium punctatum
10
Up to 1.5 m. Large clumps. Stalk short, blade up to 1 500x800 mm, sori small, scattered. Usually in shade, in low altitude forest from coast to 1 000 m. From southeast coast to eastern Zimbabwe and into tropics. (Resembles bird’s nest fern Asplenium nidus from Asia/Indian Ocean.)
1 BROAD-LEAVED MOTHER FERN
Up to 1 m. Fronds erect. Blade up to 1 m. Up to 12 pairs leaflets, base asymmetric, margin entire to crenate. Bud on tip of fronds develops into young plant. Among rocks in deep shade in forest, below 1 600 m. From south to north and northeast.
Similar:
A. boltonii More leaflets, narrower.
Asplenium rutifolium
2 CARROT FERN
Up to 480 mm. Tufted. Blade to 300x100mm. Epiphyte, occasional lithophyte in damp evergreen forests, coast to 2 000 m. Widespread. Southwest through east to Zimbabwe, Mozambique.
Asplenium cordatum
3 SCALY FERN
Up to 250 mm. Tufted. Leaf stalk short, black. Blade up to 240x 85 mm. Dense, flat, shiny, pale brown scales beneath frond. Size variable, largest in driest areas. Semi-desert to woodland, coastal forest to mountain grassland. Widespread.
Thelypteris confluens
4 BOG FERN/SCALY LADY FERN
Up to 900 mm. Slender underground rhizome. Stalk pale to dark brown. Blade up to 450x150 mm, thin, soft, leaflets not reducing in size. Large colonies in marshy areas in full sun or light shade. Widespread except in arid west from sea level to 2 060 m.
Christella dentata
5 DOWNY WOOD FERN
Up to 1.8 m. Rhizome short, creeping, up to 10 mm thick. Blade to 1 600x540 mm, lower leaflets reducing in size. Warm, damp areas along streams, forest margins 350–1 600 m. Southeast and east.
Elaphoglossum acrostichoides
6
Up to 500 mm. Closely spaced fronds. Blade up to 360x36 mm. Fertile frond with longer stalk and smaller blade, sori covering whole undersurface except midrib. Epiphytic and in grassland, near streams and in scrub, sea level to 2 800 m. Widespread.
Dryopteris inaequalis
7 LOPLOBED WOOD FERN
Up to 1.5 m. Fronds arching, subterranean rhizome. Stalk has brown scales at base. Blade 250–1000x200–400 mm, leaflet margins crenate. Along streams, in forest, sea level to 2 200 m. Widespread from southwestern Cape through east to tropical Africa.
Rumohra adiantiformis
8 KNYSNA FERN
Up to 900 mm. Creeping rhizome above soil, reddish-brown scales. Thick, shiny, leathery fronds. Blade up to 500x350 mm. Shade of forest, scrub, also rocky mountain grassland, common in cool southern forests, sea level to 2 160 m. From southwest through east to Zimbabwe. Widespread in southern hemisphere.
Blechnum attenuatum
9 GIANT HARD FERN
Up to 1.5 m. Tufted fronds. Blade up to 1 800x360 mm, leaflets with prominent veins, margins entire. Fertile fronds narrower. New fronds coppery pink. Terrestrial or lithophytic, on stream banks in grassland, evergreen forest, spray zone of waterfalls, 100–2 000 m. Common from south to east, less frequent in Zimbabwe.
Stenochlaena tenuifolia
10
Fronds up to 3 m long. Terrestrial and epiphytic, creeping rhizome up to 20 mm thick. Fronds arching, stem shiny light brown. Sterile blade up to 2 m x 700 mm, leaflets up to 350x38 mm, stiff, shiny above. Fertile blade very narrow (3 mm), covered in sori. Swamp forest, humid coastal areas in east. Rare in northeast.
Amanita muscaria
1 FLY AGARIC
Up to 200 mm diameter. Singly or in groups in shade. Cap has white warts, sticky when young. Stem 90–200x10–30 mm, white to yellowish, broader at base, ring soft, white. Summer and autumn. Under pine and oak trees. Widespread. POISONOUS.
Lentinus sajor-caju
2 FUNNEL WOODCAP
Up to 160 mm diameter. Singly or in groups on dead wood. Cap softly leathery but becoming hard with age, convex to cup- or funnel-shaped, surface cracking, margin inrolled, wavy, white to cream or brown. Stem solid, short, 30x15 mm. Early summer. From south to northeast.
Macrolepiota zeyheri
3 PARASOL MUSHROOM
100–250 mm diameter. Scattered in grassland. Cap soft, white, with pale brown scales. Stem 100–200x10–20 mm, slender, broader base. Ring large, loose, double, soft, creamy white. After good rain, late summer to early winter. Fairly common. From southwest to tropical Africa.
Termitomyces umkowaani
4 I’KOWE
Up to 250 mm diameter. Singly or scattered. Cap fleshy, surface smooth. Stem smooth, white, up to 150x20 mm, broader at base. After rains Oct–Mar. Always associated with termitaria. From southeast to north.
Gymnopilus junonius (=Pholiota spectabilis)
5 ORANGE TUFT
Up to 150 mm diameter. Dense clusters. Cap surface smooth with small orange scales. Stem up to 200x40 mm, swollen lower down, smooth or scaly. Ring papery. Late autumn. On stumps or base of unhealthy hardwood trees. From southwest to east.
Agaricus campestris
6 FIELD MUSHROOM
Up to 120 mm diameter. Singly or in groups. Cap smooth. Stem up to 100x25 mm, firm. Ring halfway or above, disappearing with age, pink lamella. After spring rain or late autumn rain. Grassland. Widespread in high rainfall areas.
Similar
EDIBLE HORSE MUSHROOM A. arvensis
More robust (up to 200 mm diameter). Stem widens slightly at base; lamella white, turning brown. Aniseed odour.
Lawns, pastures after good rain in autumn.
Agaricus xanthodermus
7 YELLOW-STAINING MUSHROOM
70–130 mm diameter. In groups. Cap bell-shaped to large flattened/convex top, staining yellow when touched/bruised. Stem 60–120 x8–15 mm, slender with bulbous base; lamella white turning greyish-pink then black (Mar–Jul). Smells of carbolic. In grassy areas, open woodland. From southwest to north. POISONOUS.
1 SHAGGY INK CAP
Up to 50 mm diameter. Clusters. Cap up to 150 mm high. Stem up to 220x20 mm with movable ring. Cap rolls back to release spores, releasing a black liquid. After good rain in summer or autumn. Grassland. Widespread.
Hypholoma fasciculare
2 SULPHUR TUFT
Up to 70 mm diameter. Dense clusters on dead hardwood trees. Cap margin wavy. Stem 50–200x2–10 mm, joined to other stems at base; lamellae yellow to dark brown. From southeast to northeast.
Boletus edulis
3 CEP
Up to 200 mm diameter. Robust. Cap smooth, glossy pale to dark reddish-brown. Stem large, swollen towards base, up to 120x 60 mm, white to pale brown, upper section with raised white threads. Late autumn to early winter in winter rainfall areas, early summer to late autumn in summer rainfall areas. Oak and pine plantations throughout region.
Similar
OAK BOLETUS B. aestivalis
Pale cap, stem not so large, brown, with network of brown threads all over.
Ganoderma lucidum
4 ORANGE-BROWN LACQUERED BRACKET
Up to 500 mm diameter. Singly or in groups. Cap up to 50 mm thick. Corky when young, maturing woody; upper surface shiny. Summer to autumn. On trunks of broadleaved trees. From southwest through east to Zimbabwe.
Laetiporus sulphureus
5 SULPHUR SHELF
Up to 300 mm wide. Large overlapping clusters. Cap velvety; flesh juicy when young, brittle with age. Late summer to autumn. Smells of chicken. Parasitic on dead hardwoods, living oak and gum trees, causing heart rot. From southwest to northeast.
Lenzites elegans (=L. palisoti)
6 EDIBLE BRACKET
Up to 350 mm wide and 15 mm thick. Singly or in groups. Cap leathery to woody; white to cream, smooth. Summer to autumn. Fragrant spicy smell. On dead hardwood trees. From south to Zimbabwe and tropical Africa.
Pycnoporus sanguineus
7 TROPICAL CINNABAR BRACKET
Up to 75x40 mm and 5 mm thick. Singly or clustered. Cap leathery to hard; upper surface velvety to smooth and shiny. On dead wood of broadleaved and pine trees. Widespread to tropical Africa.
Lycoperdon perlatum (=L. gemmatum)
8 GEM-STUDDED PUFF-BALL
Up to 50 mm high and 30 mm diameter. Singly or clustered. Covered with tiny warts leaving depressions, narrowing to stalk-like base. Late summer-autumn. Among fallen leaves of broadleaved trees. From south to northeast.
Pisolithus tinctorius
9 DYE BALL
Up to 200 mm high and 170 mm diameter. Singly or clustered. Shape variable. Midsummer to late autumn. Associated with gum and wattle trees. Common and widespread.
