Click the number at the start of a key lead to highlight both that lead and its corresponding lead. Click again to show only the two highlighted leads. Click a third time to return to the full key with the selected leads still highlighted.

Click images to enlarge and show more photo credit.

Key to Polypodium

Polypodiaceae

Polypodium

Copy permalink to share

1 Leaf blade averaging 5.8 cm wide (range of 3.2-8.2 cm), widest at the base, thus the blade elongate-deltoid in outline; rhizome scales averaging 1.1 mm wide, mostly golden brown throughout; paraphyses (sporangiasters) usually > 40 per sorus (range of 25-120); leaves mostly lobed to apex, without an attenuate, unlobed tip
1 Leaf blade averaging 4.5 cm wide (range of 3.0-5.8 cm); blade widest near the middle, thus the blade oblong to narrowly lanceolate in outline; rhizome scales averaging 1.5 mm wide, mostly brown, with a dark central stripe; paraphyses (sporangiasters) usually < 40 per sorus (range of 7-69); leaves mostly with an attenuate, unlobed tip