Polystichum monticola N. C. Anthony & Schelpe

monticola: mountain-loving, this is a fern that favours high altitudes.

Rhizome creeping, c. 15 mm in diameter, with persistent stipe bases; rhizome scales up to 10 mm long, laciniate, rust-coloured, concolorous or with chestnut stripes, lanceolate. Fronds tufted at the apex of the rhizome, arching, herbaceous to thinly coriaceous. Stipe green to pale-brown, with rust-coloured scales, becoming subglabrous with age except for a tuft of scales basally. Lamina ovate-truncate in outline, 2-pinnate to 3-pinnatifid, with basal pinnae only slightly reduced, up to 35 × 14 cm. Pinnae narrowly ovate, attenuate. Pinnules narrowly ovate, margins serrate-aristate but aristae not prominent, upper surface hairless, lower surface with occasional hair-like scales. Rhachis and secondary rhachis set with rust-coloured scales. Sori round, up to 1.5 mm in diameter; indusia membranous, erose, c. 1 mm in diameter.

Lesotho, South Africa, Zimbabwe