Schizaeaceae

Abstract

Terrestrial or epilithic, small to large ferns with creeping or erect stem bearing multicellular hairs, rarely basifixed, non-clathrate scales. Them protostelic, solenostelic, or dictyostelic, radial or dorsiventral. Leaves distichous or polystichous to spirally arranged; petiole non-articulate, with a single solid, ± distinctly C-shaped, or 3-lobed xylem strand; axes adaxially convex, flattened, marginate, or with a single groove. Lamina rarely simple, more often dichotomously or pinnately compound, at least at the base usually distinctly anadromous, mostly firm, hairy or glabrescent, rarely scaly. Veins forked or pinnately branched, free or less often reticulate without free included veinlets. Sporangia usually assembled on strongly modified leaf segments or entire leaves, rarely grouped in distinct so-ri, or in one genus single on modified leaf lobes, the head large, sessile or with a short, thick stalk, subglobose, flask-shaped, or asymmetrically flask-shaped, with transverse, subapical, continuous annulus and distinct stomium, dehiscing longitudinally (Fig. 131). Indusium none, or when sporangia borne singly, each with a special, small, indusium-like lobe inserted on the sporangium-bearing vein and opening distally. Spores trilete or less often monolete, with strongly sculptured surface.