Pteridophyta: Hymenophyllales

Hymenophyllaceae - Filmy-fern family

Crouch, N.R., Klopper, R.R., Burrows, J.E. & Burrows, S.M. (2011) Ferns of Southern Africa, A comprehensive guide Struik Nature

Jacobsen, W.B.G. (1983) The Ferns and Fern Allies of Southern Africa. Butterworths, Durban and Pretoria.

Roux, J.P. (2001) Conspectus of Southern African Pteridophyta. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report 13

Schelpe, E.A.C.L.E. (1970) Pteridophyta Flora Zambesiaca

Description of the family

Mostly epiphytic (some terrestrial or epilithic) ferns. Rhizome widely creeping to short and suberect, slender, irregularly branched, also with short adhesive hairs. Fronds monomorphic, widely spaced or approximate, arranged in 1 row or tufted. Stipe with a single circular stele; obsolete or distinct, narrowly winged distally or along the entire length. Lamina simple or divided, exceptionally thin (1 cell thick) and delicate, ultimate segments one-veined; rhachis winged or not; venation free. Sporangia borne on slender receptacle within tubular cup-shaped or deeply 2-cleft indusium, homosporus, spores green.

Worldwide: 9 genera and ca. 600 species, tropical and temperate.

Rwanda: 6 genera and 14 taxa.

Links to genera: View: living plant images - herbarium specimen images - all images for this family

Genus	Content
Abrodictyum C. Presl	Description, Image
Crepidomanes (C. Presl ) C. Presl	Description, Image
Didymoglossum Desv.	Description, Image
Hymenophyllum Sm.	Description, Image
Polyphlebium Copel.	Description, Image
Vandenboschia Copel.	Description

Other sources of information about Hymenophyllaceae:

Our websites:

Flora of Burundi: Hymenophyllaceae
Flora of the DRC: Hymenophyllaceae
Flora of Malawi: Hymenophyllaceae
Flora of Mozambique: Hymenophyllaceae
Flora of Zambia: Hymenophyllaceae
Flora of Zimbabwe: Hymenophyllaceae

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Hymenophyllaceae
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Hymenophyllaceae
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Hymenophyllaceae
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Hymenophyllaceae
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Hymenophyllaceae
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Hymenophyllaceae
JSTOR Plant Science: Hymenophyllaceae
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Hymenophyllaceae
Wikipedia: Hymenophyllaceae
Plants of the World Online: Hymenophyllaceae
Tropicos: Hymenophyllaceae