ICONES FILICUM SINICARUM 
PLATE 63 
LEPISORUS MACROSPHAERUS (Bak.) var. ASTEROLEPIS (Bak.) Ching 
POLY PODIACEAE 
LEPISORUS MACROSPHAERUS (Bak.) var. ASTEROLEPIS (Bak.) Ching, Bull. Fan Mem. 
Inst. Biol. 4: 74 (1933). 
Polypodium asterolepis Baker, Journ, Bot. (1888) 330; Christ, Bull. Acad. Géogr. Bot. (1906) 
I05. 
Polypodium aspidiolepis Baker, Ann. Bot. 5: 474 (1891); Diels in Engl. Jahrb. 29: 204 (gor). 
Polypodium excavatum var. asterolepis C. Chr, Ind. Fil. 511 (1906). 
Polypodium macrosphaerum var. asterolepis C. Chr. Acta Horti Gotob. 1: 101 (1024). 
The present variety differs from the type in much smaller lanceolate frond of a 
more coriaceous texture, often clear flavescent color, more or less, oblong, oblique, 
medial sori and completely hidden venation. 
Szechuan: Mt. Omei, E. Faber 1068 (type); Brown 76; Wilson 5221; W. P. Fang 
3057; Tchen-kou-tin, Farges 95; Nanchuan, W. P. Fang 1080, 1424; Kuan Hsien, W. P. 
Fang 2162; Hanynang Hsien, W. P. Fang 3769; Kating, W. P. Fang 3682; Hon-ya 
Hsien, W. P. Fang 8419, 8428,8424; Opien, T.F. Lou 159, 49, Sept. 15, 1929. Shensi: 
Tsing-lin, David, March, 1837; The-pei Shan, Giraldi, Sept. 1397; Purdom 95. Kwei- 
chow: Kwei-yang, Bodinier 23; Gan-chow, Cavalerie 734; Van-ching Shan, Y. Tsiang 
7585; Tsin-gai, Bodinier 2088. Kwangsi: Lungchow, Morse 24. Anwhei: Wu-yuan, 
R. C. Ching 8912; Whang Shan, R. C. Ching 8552. Kiangsi: Lu-shan, A. N. Steward 
2674; N. Kk. Up 1829. Hupeh: Patung, Henry 36538, 1723, 2556; E. H. Wilson 2625; 
Shin-shan Hisen, S. S. Chien 8329. Yunnan: Haut Mekong, Soulié 1609; E. E. Maire 
1888 (1913); environs de Yunnan-sen, Ducloux 185; 1384; Chetcho-tze, Delavay 10; 
Tsang Shan, Delavay 4215, March, 1890; Mengtze, Leduc (1891). 
The type specimen seems to be very distinct from Lepisorus macrosphaerus 
(Baker), but in the presence of ample material from different localities and diverse 
habitats, it is gradually led up by intermediate forms to the preceding species. The 
differences in characters referred to above are due largely to the drier conditions under 
which this fern happens to grow. Consequently, specimens from southern part of Shensi 
and Eastern China are more referrable to this variety than to the typical form of 
L. macrosphaerus, because ecological conditions in these localities are usually much drier 
than those in the southwestern part of the country. 
Plate 63. Fig. 1. habit sketch (natural size). 2. section a lamina, showing venation and 
position of sorus (x4). 3. peltate paraphysis from a sorus (X50). 4. scale from underside of a lamina 
(X50). 5. scale from rhizome (X50). 
