Pteridophyta: Polypodiales

Polypodiaceae - Polypody family

Grammitidaceae

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

Very small to medium-sized ferns; epiphytic, lithophytic or rarely terrestrial. Rhizome short- or long-creeping or climbing, laterally branched; roots formed ventrally, dorsally with 2 rows of frond scars. Fronds mono-, hemi- or dimorphic, articulated or not; stipe short or long; lamina simple to 2-pinnatifid, entire or shallowly crenate; veins free or anastomosing. Indumentum composed of scales on the rhizome, axes and lamina and hairs on the lamina surfaces. Sori circular (in ours), superficial or slightly sunken, scattered or in a single row on either side of the primary or secondary vein, with or without paraphyses; exindusiate.

Worldwide: 56 genera and c. 1200 species worldwide. Near cosmopolitan distribution with the greatest diversity in tropical areas, especially in Asia.

Rwanda: 11 genera and 12 taxa.

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

Genus	Content
Cochlidium Kaulf.	Description, Image
Drynaria (Bory) J.Sm.	Description, Image
Lellingeria A.R. Sm. & R.C. Moran	Description, Image
Lepisorus (J. Sm.) Ching	Description, Image
Loxogramme (Blume) C. Presl	Description, Image
Melpomene A.R. Sm. & R.C. Moran	Description, Image
Microsorum Link	Description, Image
Platycerium Desv.	Description, Image
Pleopeltis Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd.	Description, Image
Pyrrosia Mirb.	Description, Image
Zygophlebia L.E. Bishop	Description

Other sources of information about Polypodiaceae:

Our websites:

Flora of Burundi: Polypodiaceae
Flora of the DRC: Polypodiaceae
Flora of Malawi: Polypodiaceae
Flora of Mozambique: Polypodiaceae
Flora of Zambia: Polypodiaceae
Flora of Zimbabwe: Polypodiaceae
Flora of Zimbabwe: cultivated Polypodiaceae

External websites:

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