Polypodiaceae

Veins anastomosing Polypodiaceae

Epiphytic or rupestral ferns with long-creeping rhizomes. Sori round or, if elongated and confluent, then 2–6.5 cm long. Scale-fronds absent

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Lamina glabrous or with a few clathrate scales along the veins. Paraphyses absent or with enlarged apices, never stellate. Scales of the rhizome clathrate at least towards the middle

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Stipe < 20 cm long. Lamina simple or pinnatifid

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Free included veinlets in the areolae of the lamina absent except in rare cases in the Australian species; the veins almost hidden. Lamina simple Dictymia

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Free included veinlets present in the areolae of the lamina (Fig. 18). Lamina simple or pinnatifid Microsorum