Niphidium

  • Authority

    Mickel, John T. & Smith, Alan R. 2004. The pteridophytes of Mexico. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 88: 1-1054.

  • Family

    Polypodiaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Niphidium

  • Description

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    Genus Description - Epiphytic or terrestrial; rhizomes short- to long-creeping; rhizome scales concolorous to bicolorous, clathrate, attached near base or peltate, surfaces glabrous, margins entire (in ours) to toothed; fronds simple, approximate to distant, monomorphic, stipitate, narrowly lanceolate to oblong, attenuate at bases and apices, articulate, margins entire; blades coriaceous, glabrous, often glaucous, sometimes with a few scales along the costae (in ours); venation areolate, inconspicuous transverse areoles with minor areoles containing free veins; sori round to slightly oblong, exindusiate, apparently at the junction of veins (actually veins forming an irregular ring beneath the sori), solitary in major areoles, usually in one row between main lateral veins; paraphyses (abortive sporangia) present (in ours) or not; sporangia with multicellular hairs (in ours) or glabrous; spores bilateral, smooth; x =37.

  • Discussion

    Type: Niphidium americanum (Hook.) J. Sm. [= Polypodium americanum Hook.] = Niphidium longifolium (Cav.) C. Morton & Lellinger.

    Anaxetum Schott, Gen. Fil., t. 1. 1834, hom. illeg., non Anaxeton Gaertner, 1791. Pessopteris Underw. & Maxon, Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 10: 485. 1908. Type: Anaxetum crassifolium (L.) Schott [= Polypodium crassifolium L.] = Niphidium crassifolium (L.) Lellinger

    Niphidium is a neotropical genus of ten species within the polypodioid ferns and is most closely related to Campyloneurum (Schneider et al., 2004). Most species have restricted ranges in South America; one species occurs in Mexico. Lellinger (1972) united Niphidium and Pessopteris, genera previously regarded as distinct. Niphidium is characterized by the large, strap-like fronds with a single row of large, round sori between the major lateral veins and intricate venation with multiple veins to each sorus.