POLYPODIACEAE 7 



2. Polypodium Plumula H.B.K. Leaves erect or spreading ; petioles 2.5-10 cm. 

 long, black, slender ; blades narrowly lanceolate, 20-40 cm. long ; segments numerous, 

 narrow, entire, blunt, the lower abruptly smaller, the surfaces naked except the black wiry 

 rachis : veins once forked, obscure. 



Peninsular Florida. Also in tropical regions. 



3. Polypodium pectlnatum L. Leaves spreading or arching ; petioles rigid, 5-15 

 cm. long ; blades elliptic-lanceolate, 3-8 dm. long, cut to the rachis into horizontal entire 

 or slightly toothed segments, the lower ones gradually reduced to triangular lobes : rachis 

 naked or finely villous ; veins pellucid, twice or three times forked : sori of medium 

 size in long rows. 



Eastern peninsular Florida. Also in tropical regions. 



4. Polypodium polypodioides (L. ) A. S. Hitchcock. Eootstocks woody, widely 

 creeping. Leaves evergreen ; petioles densely scaly, 2.5-4.5 cm. long; blades oblong 

 or oblong-lanceolate, 3-15 cm. long, acute, cut very nearly or quite to the rachis into 

 entire oblong or linear obtuse segments, nearly glabrous on the upper surface, the lower sur- 

 face and rachis covered with gray peltate scales with darker centers : veins obscure. [P. 

 incanum Sw.] 



On trees or rocks, Pennsylvania to Illinois and Missouri, south to Florida and Texas. Also through- 

 out tropical America. 



3. FHLEBODIUM E. Br. 



Tropical mostly epiphytic plants, with pinnate leaf -blades. Sori round, naked, dorsal, 

 borne on the united ends of two or more free veinlets which are included in the ample 

 areolae formed by the regular anastomosing veins. 



1. Phlebodium aureum (L. ) E. Br. Eootstock short, densely scaly. Leaves ample, 

 3-6 dm. long ; petioles chestnut-colored, naked ; blades 6-15 dm. long, cut nearly to the 

 rachis into broad entire or undulate segments : areolae copious. [Polypodium aureum L.] 



On Sabal Palmetto, peninsular Florida. Also in tropical America. 



4. CAMPYLONEURON Presl. 



Tropical plants with usually simple and entire leaf -blades. Sori round, naked, dorsal, 

 in one or two rows on either side of the midrib. Primary veins distinct from the midrib 

 to the margin, connected by parallel transverse veinlets forming regular arches. Areolae 

 similar, with two or more large sori. 



1. Camplyoneuron Phyllitidia (L.) Presl. Eootstocks stout, scaly. Leaves erect 

 or arching; petioles short or wanting; blades simple, 3-9 dm. long, 2.5-10 cm. wide, 

 leathery, acute, gradually narrowed below : areolae in rows of 6-12 from the midrib to the 

 margin. [Polypodium Phyllitidis L.] 



Southern peninsular Florida. Also in tropical America. 



5. PHYMATODES Presl. 



Tropical plants, often epiphytic, with simple leaf-blades. Sori rounded, naked, dor- 

 sal, various in position. Veins forming fine copious irregular areolae with free veinlets 

 spreading in various directions. 



1. Phymatodes exiguum (Hew.) Underw. Eootstocks widely creeping, slender, 

 covered with linear ferruginous scales. Leaves elongated ; petioles 6-12 mm. long, 

 slender, naked ; blades simple, 5-10 cm. long, entire, undulate or barely lobed, gradually 

 narrowed to both ends : sori in one series on free veinlets. [Polypodium Swartzii Baker. ] 



Climbing on shrubs, Key Largo, Florida. Also in tropical America. 



6. VITTARIA J. E. Smith. 



Tufted often epiphytic plants, with grass-like leaves. Sori linear, continuous in 2- 

 lipped marginal grooves or intramarginal lines, with the unaltered edge of the leaf-blade 

 produced beyond, and often rolled over them, but without special indusia. Veins obscure 

 but forming a single row of areolae. 



1. Vittaria lineata (L. ) J. E. Smith. Leaves 1.5-9 dm. long, 2-10 mm. wide, nar- 

 rowed gradually toward a stout compressed stem, the edges often reflexed : sori in a broad 

 intramarginal line in a slight furrow, the edge of the leaf-blade at first wrapped over it. 



On palmettos, middle and peninsular Florida. Also in tropical America. GRASS FERN. 



