Lindsaeaceae

Abstract

The Lindsaeaceae, in the order of Polypodiales, is a family of fern, consisting of 6–7 genera with around 220 species, mainly distributed in tropical and subtropical regions. Plants are terrestrial. Rhizomes short, creeping, or sometimes long and rampant, protostelic, clothed with scales. Scales are consisting of 2–4 cells at base, bristlelike upwards. Fronds are monomorphic, rarely dimorphic, approximate or distant, 1- to many-pinnate, petiolate. Veins are free, dichotomous, or reticulate, lumina obliquely hexagonal, without internal small veins. Sori are usually on two to several uniting veinlets, marginal or submarginal confluence, or lonely on veins apically. Indusia are membranous, from submarginal, often as wide as pinnule margins, opening outward, basally adnate, laterally free or adnate. Spores are 32 per sporangium, tetrahedral-globose, trilete or monolete. One species, Odontosoria chinensis J. Sm., is illustrated in the chapter.