Elephant Leaf Brake

vitta: narrow headband worn during sacrificial rites; alluding to the narrow linear pinnae

Rhizome prostrate to suberect, short, up to 8 mm in diameter; rhizome scales linear to lanceolate with a long hair-tip, pale brown, up to 7 mm long, entire. Fronds tufted or closely spaced, arching, herbaceous to slightly coriaceous. Stipe up to 20 cm long but varying in length, pale brown, glabrous with age and with scales similar to the rhizome near the base. Lamina up to 1.1 × 0.4 m, oblong-lanceolate in outline, pinnate, middle pinnae the longest and basal pinnae gradually reducing in size. Pinnae 20-40, opposite to alternate, shortly stalked, linear in outline, apex gradually tapering to a point, base cordate or rounded, margins minutely toothed; veins free; glabrous on both surfaces; costae prominent below. Rhachis glabrous, pale brown. Sori linear, continuous, marginal; indusia entire, membranous.

Widespread in Africa, also Spain, Yemen, Comoro & Mascarene Islands, Madagascar, tropical Asia, China, Japan, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Australia and Polynesia.