Ferns are considered non-flowering ancient plants, dating back over 360 million years to the Devonian period, making them some of the oldest surviving plant groups on Earth.
Rwanda is home to a variety of ferns, thanks to its diverse ecosystems, which range from montane forests to wetlands and savannas. The country’s high altitude and humid climate create ideal conditions for ferns to thrive. Notably, a recent study focusing on Nyungwe National Park identified 190 species within 25 families and 76 genera, highlighting the park’s significance as a biodiversity hotspot. The country’s varied ecosystems, from montane rainforests to savannas and wetlands, provide ideal habitats for these species. While the total number of plant species in Rwanda is estimated at around 3,000, ongoing research continues to uncover new species, underscoring the dynamic nature of the nation’s flora.
Ferns of Rwanda Checklist
Ferns of Nyungwe National Park Checklist
iNaturalist Ferns of Rwanda
Polypodiopsida specimens (NHR) – 831 records
Lycopodiopsida specimens (NHR) – 88 records
POSTER PRESENTATION
2024 Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation, Kigali, Rwanda
A Taxonomic Gap Analysis for the Checklist of Ferns and Lycophytes from Nyungwe National Park, Rwanda
A checklist of undercollected ferns and lycophytes found within Nyungwe National Park, Southern Province of Rwanda is presented. Herbarium
specimens deposited in the National Herbarium of Rwanda (NHR) were inventoried and taxonomic nomenclature reviewed and updated following
the 2016 Pteridophyte Phylogeny Group Classification. The collection includes 893 specimens (810 Polypodiopsida/83 Lycopodiospsida) accessioned
including 190 species in 25 families and 76 genera. Additionally, we reviewed specimen data held overseas by Meise Botanical Garden herbarium (BR)
as well as data published in the US based data portals which included specimens deposited in 8 additional herbaria. A taxonomic gap analysis
combined and analyzed all data and identified 268 specimens as a subcollection being collected specifically within the boundary of the Nyungwe
National Park which included 102 taxa. Download PDF
Checklist of Lycopodiopsida (clubmosses and quillworts) and Polypodiopsida (ferns) of Rwanda.
The checklist comprises 208 species and two varieties of Lycopodiopsida and Polypodiopsida. All historic literature records, mainly from Brause & Hieronymus (1910) and Pichi Sermolli (1983, 1985) have been revised. The pteridological results of 39 years of botanical exploration of the flora of Rwanda by Eberhard Fischer, have been added. Two new varieties (Pleopeltis macrocarpa var. dichotoma and P. macrocarpa var. pinnatiloba are validated.
Citation: Fischer E. & Lobin W. 2024: Checklist of Lycopodiopsida (clubmosses and quillworts) and Polypodiopsida (ferns) of Rwanda. – Willdenowia 53: 149–172.
