Polypodiaceae
Encyclopedia
Polypodiaceae is a family
of polypod fern
s, which includes more than 60 genera
divided into several tribe
s and containing around 1,000 species
. Nearly all are epiphyte
s, but some are terrestrial.
s are entire, pinnatifid, or variously forked or pinnate. The petiole
s lack stipule
s. The scaly rhizome
s are generally creeping in nature. Polypodiaceae species are found in wet climates, most commonly in rain forests. In temperate zones, most species tend to be epiphytic or epipetric
.
Notable examples of ferns in this family include the resurrection fern (Pleopeltis polypodioides) and the golden serpent fern (Phlebodium aureum
).
. Some are classified by other authorities as separate families.
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
of polypod fern
Fern
A fern is any one of a group of about 12,000 species of plants belonging to the botanical group known as Pteridophyta. Unlike mosses, they have xylem and phloem . They have stems, leaves, and roots like other vascular plants...
s, which includes more than 60 genera
Genera
Genera is a commercial operating system and development environment for Lisp machines developed by Symbolics. It is essentially a fork of an earlier operating system originating on the MIT AI Lab's Lisp machines which Symbolics had used in common with LMI and Texas Instruments...
divided into several tribe
Tribe (biology)
In biology, a tribe is a taxonomic rank between family and genus. It is sometimes subdivided into subtribes.Some examples include the tribes: Canini, Acalypheae, Hominini, Bombini, and Antidesmeae.-See also:* Biological classification* Rank...
s and containing around 1,000 species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
. Nearly all are epiphyte
Epiphyte
An epiphyte is a plant that grows upon another plant non-parasitically or sometimes upon some other object , derives its moisture and nutrients from the air and rain and sometimes from debris accumulating around it, and is found in the temperate zone and in the...
s, but some are terrestrial.
Description
Stems of Polypodiaceae range from erect to long-creeping. The frondFrond
The term frond refers to a large, divided leaf. In both common usage and botanical nomenclature, the leaves of ferns are referred to as fronds and some botanists restrict the term to this group...
s are entire, pinnatifid, or variously forked or pinnate. The petiole
Petiole (botany)
In botany, the petiole is the stalk attaching the leaf blade to the stem. The petiole usually has the same internal structure as the stem. Outgrowths appearing on each side of the petiole are called stipules. Leaves lacking a petiole are called sessile, or clasping when they partly surround the...
s lack stipule
Stipule
In botany, stipule is a term coined by Linnaeus which refers to outgrowths borne on either side of the base of a leafstalk...
s. The scaly rhizome
Rhizome
In botany and dendrology, a rhizome is a characteristically horizontal stem of a plant that is usually found underground, often sending out roots and shoots from its nodes...
s are generally creeping in nature. Polypodiaceae species are found in wet climates, most commonly in rain forests. In temperate zones, most species tend to be epiphytic or epipetric
Epipetric
An epipetric plant, is one that is found growing on rocks. Many ferns fall into this category of plant habitat, including Asplenium . Epipetric plants are called Lithophytes....
.
Notable examples of ferns in this family include the resurrection fern (Pleopeltis polypodioides) and the golden serpent fern (Phlebodium aureum
Phlebodium aureum
Phlebodium aureum is an epiphytic fern native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas...
).
Classification
Polypodiaceae is usually divided into the following subfamilies and tribesTribe (biology)
In biology, a tribe is a taxonomic rank between family and genus. It is sometimes subdivided into subtribes.Some examples include the tribes: Canini, Acalypheae, Hominini, Bombini, and Antidesmeae.-See also:* Biological classification* Rank...
. Some are classified by other authorities as separate families.
- Subfamily PlatycerioideaePlatycerioideaePlatycerioideae is a subfamily of ferns. It contains two genera with stellate fronds with hairs....
- Fronds with stellate (radiating from central point) hairs. Example genera: PlatyceriumPlatyceriumPlatycerium is a genus of about 18 fern species in the polypod family, Polypodiaceae. Ferns in this genus are widely known as staghorn or elkhorn ferns due to their uniquely-shaped fronds...
, Pyrrosia - Subfamily PolypodioideaePolypodioideaePolypodioideae is a subfamily belonging to the family Polypodiaceae. They possess scales and/or hairs. Never stellate....
- Possess scales and/or hairs. Never stellate. - Tribe DrynarieaeDrynarieaeDrynarieae is a tribe of ferns belonging to the subfamily Polypodioideae of the family Polypodiaceae. Its members are characterized by dimorphic fronds. It contains around 35 species and two genera:* Aglaomorpha* Drynaria...
- Fronds are dimorphic. Example genera: DrynariaDrynariaDrynaria, commonly known as basket ferns, is a genus of ferns in the family Polypodiaceae. It contains around 16 species and one natural hybrid....
, AglaomorphaAglaomorphaAglaomorpha is a genus of moth in the family Arctiidae. It consists of the following species:*Aglaomorpha histrio *Aglaomorpha plagiata -References:**... - Tribe SelligueeaeSelligueeaeSelligueeae is a tribe of polypod ferns in the family Polypodiaceae. They are characterized by opaque stem scales. Fronds are monomorphic.This tribe contains at least two genera....
- Characterized by opaque stem scales. Fronds are monomorphic. Example genus: SelligueaSelligueaSelliguea is a fern genus in the family Polypodiaceae.-Species list:* Selliguea albicaula M.Kato & M.G.Price; Acta Phytotax. Geobot. 41: 72... - Tribe LepisoreaeLepisoreaeLepisoreae is a tribe of ferns with clathrate scales. They have thick exospores and monomorphic fronds.This tribe contains at least three genera....
- Clathrate (lattice-like) scales. Thick exospore. Fronds monomorphic. Example genera: Belvisia, Lepisorus - Tribe MicrosoreaeMicrosoreaeMicrosoreae is a tribe of ferns with clathrate scales, thin exospores, and monomorphic fronds.This tribe contains at least seven genera....
- Clathrate scales. Thin exospore. Fronds monomorphic. Example genera: LecanopterisLecanopterisLecanopteris is a genus of any of a number of bizarre ferns having swollen hollow rhizomes that provide homes for symbiotic ants. All are epiphytic plants that naturally occur from Southeast Asia to New Guinea. Some of these ferns are popular in cultivation as houseplants.Selected species...
, MicrosorumMicrosorumMicrosorum is a genus of over fifty species of tropical ferns. Like most ferns, they grow from rhizomes, rather than roots. The genus name is often mis-spelled "Microsorium" or "Microsoreum". It includes some species that are lithophytic rheophytes.... - Tribe PolypodieaePolypodieaePolypodieae is a tribe of ferns. They possess mostly clathrate scales, but sometimes opaque. They have usually thick, sometimes thin, exospores. The possess monomorphic fronds.This tribe contains at least seven genera....
- Mostly clathrate scales, but somtimes opaque. Thick exospores, but sometimes thin. Fronds monomorphic. Example genera: PolypodiumPolypodiumPolypodium is a genus of 75–100 species of true ferns, widely distributed throughout the world, with the highest species diversity in the tropics. The name is derived from Ancient Greek poly "many" + podion "little foot", on account of the foot-like appearance of the rhizome and its branches...
, PeclumaPeclumaPecluma is a genus of fern in family Polypodiaceae. It contains the following species :* Pecluma pastazensis, R.C.Moran... - Tribe LoxogrammeaeLoxogrammeaeLoxogrammeae is a tribe of ferns. It contains two genera. They lack sclerenchyma in plant body, except in the roots.This tribe contains at least two genera....
- Lacks sclerenchyma (supporting tissue) in plant body, except in the roots. Example genus: Loxogramme