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Volume IV (1988) - Flora of New Zealand Naturalised Pteridophytes, Gymnosperms, Dicotyledons
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Filicopsida

FILICOPSIDA

KEY TO GENERA OF FERNS (FILICOPSIDA)

1
Plant aquatic
2
Plant terrestrial or epiphytic
5
2
Plant rooted to substrate
3
Plant free-floating on water surface
4
3
Lamina 0
PILULARIA†
Lamina divided into 4 ± equal segments
MARSILEA
4
Lvs > 10 mm long, covered in looped hairs
SALVINIA
Lvs c. 1 mm long, often red-tinged, glabrous
AZOLLA
5
Stipe divided into 2, giving rise to sterile lamina and separate spike or stalk bearing sporangia
6
Stipe undivided, or, if branched, sporangia borne on margins of laminae
7
6
Sporangia produced on an undivided fleshy spike; lamina entire
OPHIOGLOSSUM†
Sporangia produced on a branched stalk; lamina at least pinnately divided
BOTRYCHIUM†
7
Plant bearing markedly different fertile and sterile fronds, or fertile fronds with markedly different fertile and sterile pinnae
8
Plant bearing similar fertile and sterile fronds, or bearing only fertile fronds with similar fertile and sterile pinnae
10
8
Sterile laminae branching dichotomously; plants high climbing
LYGODIUM†
Sterile laminae 1-2-pinnate; plants mostly terrestrial or epiphytic
9
9
Fronds 1-pinnate; fertile and sterile fronds markedly different
BLECHNUM†
Fronds 2-pinnate; fertile pinnae confined to apex of frond and markedly different to lower sterile pinnae
OSMUNDA
10
Stipe dichotomously divided
SCHIZAEA†
Stipe not branched (occasionally branched in malformed specimens)
11
11
Lamina with the main stem or rachis repeatedly dividing dichotomously
12
Lamina undivided, forked once, or with the main stem or rachis branching pinnately
15
12
Buds 0 at each dichotomy
ADIANTUM
Buds present at each dichotomy
13
13
Ultimate pairs of rachis branches bearing leafy pinnae; penultimate branches lacking pinnae; sori of at least 6 sporangia; rhizome bearing hairs
DICRANOPTERIS†
All branches bearing leafy pinnae; sori of at most 5 sporangia; rhizome bearing scales
14
14
Rachis branching at wide angles (often > 90°); ultimate segments < 2 mm long
GLEICHENIA†
Rachis branching at narrow angles (< 90°); ultimate segments > 5 mm long
STICHERUS†
15
Pinna midribs markedly swollen at junction with rachis; sporangia fused together in 2 rows into a synangium opening by a longitudinal vertical split
MARATTIA†
Pinna midribs not markedly swollen at junction with rachis; sporangia discrete, opening individually by means of an annulus
16
16
Fertile frond not divided
17
Fertile frond 1-2-pinnate or more divided
23
17
Frond reniform
TRICHOMANES†
Frond linear, elliptic, ovate or round
18
18
Frond with toothed margin, < 1 cm long, thin and translucent
HYMENOPHYLLUM†
Frond with entire margin, > 1 cm long, firm and opaque
19
19
Sori round or broadly elliptic, arranged randomly or in ± opposite pairs
20
Sori elongate, arranged in herring-bone pattern
22
20
Rhizome erect; fronds not jointed to rhizome
ANARTHROPTERIS†
Rhizome extensively creeping; fronds jointed to rhizome
21
21
Underside of frond densely covered in fawn-coloured, stellate hairs
PYRROSIA†
Underside of frond lacking obvious hairs
PHYMATOSORUS†
22
Indusium present; frond > 2 cm wide
PHYLLITIS
Indusium 0; frond < 2 cm wide
GRAMMITIS†
23
Fertile frond not more than 1-pinnate; all pinnae entire (sometimes toothed on margin, but not further divided)
24
At least some part of frond more than 1-pinnate
39
24
Lamina many × < stipe
SCHIZAEA†
Lamina c. = or > stipe
25
25
Frond densely covered in woolly hairs
PLEUROSORUS†
Frond glabrous or sparsely hairy (sometimes scaly)
26
26
Sori confined to cup-shaped or tubular indusia, either protruding from the frond margin, or terminating the rachis; frond of delicate and translucent texture (filmy ferns)
27
Sori round, elliptic, or elongated along veins or frond margin; frond firm and opaque
28
27
Indusium with 2 free flaps at apex; central stalk (receptacle) barely exserted
HYMENOPHYLLUM†
Indusium tubular; central stalk (receptacle) far exserted
TRICHOMANES†
28
Sori elongated along frond margin
29
Sori away from margin, or, if marginal, short and ± rounded
31
29
Pinnae > 4 cm long
PTERIS
Pinnae < 4 cm long
30
30
Pinnae fan-shaped; sori confined to apical portion of pinnae; rachis not obviously scaly
LINDSAEA†
Pinnae rounded or oblong; sori confined to upper and lower edges of pinnae; rachis obviously scaly
PELLAEA†
31
Plant with extensive creeping or climbing rhizome
32
Plant with erect or short-creeping rhizome
34
32
Pinnae tapering at base, joined to rachis by distinct stalk
ARTHROPTERIS†
Pinnae broadened at base, lacking a distinct stalk at junction with rachis
33
33
Rachis continuously winged from base to apex; pinnae entire
PHYMATOSORUS†
Rachis winged only in upper 1/2, with at least the lower part of the lamina divided to rachis; pinnae minutely serrate
POLYPODIUM
34
Frond harsh, often red-tinged; sori oblong, in rows parallel to midrib
DOODIA†
Frond soft or leathery; sori round, or elongated along veins at angle to midrib
35
35
Most pinnae slightly broadened at base, adnate to rachis; indusia 0
CTENOPTERIS†
Most pinnae attached by a distinct stalk to rachis; indusia present
36
36
Sori elongated along veins, protected by elongate indusia
ASPLENIUM†
Sori and indusia round, half-moon shaped or reniform
37
37
Sori protected by hairy, reflexed, reniform, marginal flaps
ADIANTUM
Sori protected by round or half-moon shaped, glabrous indusia not connected to the lamina margin
38
38
Sori in one row either side of pinna midrib, protected by half-moon shaped indusia
NEPHROLEPIS
Sori in several rows either side of pinna midrib, protected by round indusia
CYRTOMIUM
39
Fertile frond not more than 2-pinnate (secondary pinnae sometimes toothed on margin, but not more divided)
40
At least some part of fertile frond more than 2-pinnate
60
40
Rachis with distinct jagged wing; fronds often borne on short woody trunk
BLECHNUM†
Rachis lacking wing; fronds not borne on woody trunk
41
41
Sporangia not in discrete sori, spread over most or all of lamina undersurface at maturity; indusia 0
42
Sporangia in discrete sori, usually protected either by distinct indusia or by the inrolled lamina margin (occasionally indusia 0)
43
42
Frond < 10 cm long; sporangia on most pinnae
ANOGRAMMA†
Frond > 10 cm long; sporangia confined to lower pinnae
TODEA†
43
Sori elongated continuously along frond margin
44
Sori away from margin, or, if marginal, short and discrete, or protruding beyond the margin
46
44
Sori protected by elongated indusia opening away from centre of lamina segment
LINDSAEA†
Sori protected by inrolled lamina margin, opening towards centre of lamina segment
45
45
Fronds < 30 cm long; small plants of dry rocky areas
CHEILANTHES†
Fronds > 30 cm long; large plants of forest or bush margins
PTERIS
46
Sori confined to cup-shaped or tubular indusia protruding from frond margin; frond of delicate and translucent texture (filmy ferns)
47
Sori away from margin, or, if marginal, not protruding beyond margin; frond not usually delicate and translucent
48
47
Indusium with 2 free flaps at apex; central stalk (receptacle) not extending much beyond flaps
HYMENOPHYLLUM†
Indusium tubular, lacking free flaps at apex; central stalk (receptacle) extending far beyond tube mouth
TRICHOMANES†
48
Primary pinnae adnate to rachis
CTENOPTERIS†
Primary pinnae joined by distinct stalk to rachis
49
49
Sori short, ± rounded, not elongated along veins, usually protected by round, ovate, reniform or oblong indusia
50
Sori elongated along veins, usually protected by elongated indusia
58
50
Sori on frond margins
51
Sori away from frond margins
52
51
Indusia opening towards centre of lamina segment
ADIANTUM
Indusia opening away from centre of lamina segment
LINDSAEA†
52
Rachis abundantly scaly
53
Rachis smooth or with only very scattered scales
54
53
At least some secondary pinnae distinctly stalked, or narrowed at base; indusia round or 0
POLYSTICHUM
Secondary pinnae broadened at base, adnate to pinna midrib; indusia kidney-shaped
DRYOPTERIS
54
Longest primary pinnae about twice as long as broad; indusia ovate, glabrous
CYSTOPTERIS
Longest primary pinnae much more than twice as long as broad; indusia 0, or kidney-shaped and usually hairy or glandular
55
55
Lower primary pinnae greatly reduced in size; lowest pinnae much < middle pinnae
56
Lower primary pinnae only slightly reduced in size; lowest pinnae only slightly < middle pinnae
57
56
Undersurfaces of laminae hairy; indusia present
CHRISTELLA†
Undersurfaces of laminae glabrous; indusia 0
PNEUMATOPTERIS†
57
Basal veins from neighbouring secondary pinnae joining to form a common vein; hairs on indusia bristle-like
CYCLOSORUS†
All veins from neighbouring secondary pinnae quite free from each other; hairs on indusia glandular
THELYPTERIS†
58
Lamina abundantly covered in long woolly hairs; indusia 0
PLEUROSORUS†
Lamina lacking woolly hairs; indusia present
59
59
Free margin of indusium entire, though sometimes curved; indusia never paired back-to-back along both sides of a vein
ASPLENIUM†
Free margin of indusium irregularly toothed; usually a few indusia paired back-to-back along both sides of a vein
DEPARIA†
60
Sporangia not in discrete sori, spread over most or all of lamina undersurface at maturity; indusia 0
61
Sporangia in discrete sori, usually protected by distinct indusia and/or the inrolled lamina margin (occasionally indusia 0)
62
61
Frond < 10 cm long, delicate but opaque
ANOGRAMMA†
Frond > 10 cm long, delicate and translucent
LEPTOPTERIS †
62
Sori elongated ± continuously along margin of frond, at least at maturity
63
Sori away from margin, or, if marginal, short and discrete, or protruding beyond the margin
68
63
Sori protected by elongated indusia opening away from centre of lamina segment
LINDSAEA†
Sori protected by inrolled lamina margin opening towards centre of lamina segment
64
64
Stipe and rachis rough, bearing glandular hairs
PAESIA†
Stipe and rachis smooth, lacking glandular hairs
65
65
Primary pinnae < 6 cm long; sori short and discrete when young, ± continuous at maturity
CHEILANTHES†
Primary pinnae > 6 cm long; sori always ± continuous around margin
66
66
Rhizome erect; margins of ultimate segments often toothed near apices
PTERIS
Rhizome extensively creeping; margins of ultimate segments entire
67
67
All veins free; fronds coriaceous, hairy on underside, never glaucous; rhizome hairy
PTERIDIUM†
At least some veins anastomosing; frond thin, glabrous, glaucous when young; rhizome scaly
HISTIOPTERIS†
68
Sori elongated along veins, protected by elongated indusia
69
Sori ± round or slightly oblong and usually protected by round, ovate, reniform or oblong indusia, or, confined to pouched or protruding indusia on frond margins
72
69
Free margin of indusium entire, sometimes curved
ASPLENIUM†
Free margin of indusium irregularly toothed
70
70
At least some indusia bent across vein at one end; indusia never paired back-to-back either side of vein
ATHYRIUM
Induia never bent across vein; at least some indusia paired back-to-back either side of vein
71
71
Lamina bearing scattered hairs; rhizome creeping; groove of rachis not joining with grooves of pinna midribs
DEPARIA†
Lamina glabrous; rhizome erect; groove of rachis joining with grooves of pinna midribs
DIPLAZIUM†
72
Plants with tall woody trunks (tree ferns)
73
Plants lacking tall woody trunks
74
73
Sori confined to lamina margins; hairs present on stipes and lamina surfaces; scales 0
DICKSONIA
Sori away from lamina margins; scales and sometimes hairs present on stipes and lamina surfaces
CYATHEA†
74
Sori confined to pouched, or protruding cup-shaped or tubular indusia on frond margin
75
Sori away from margin, or, if marginal, short and discrete but neither pouched nor protruding from margin
78
75
Frond usually very thin and translucent (filmy ferns)
76
Frond thick and opaque
77
76
Indusium with 2 free flaps at apex; central stalk (receptacle) not extending much beyond flaps
HYMENOPHYLLUM†
Indusium tubular, lacking free flaps at apex; central stalk (receptacle) extending far beyond tube mouth
TRICHOMANES†
77
Indusium tubular, extending beyond edge of lamina; frond lighter green or white on underside
LOXSOMA†
Indusium pouched, not extending beyond edge of lamina; both frond surfaces of similar colour
DAVALLIA†
78
Sori marginal, protected by small inrolled lamina flaps opening towards centre of lamina segment (flaps sometimes vestigial)
79
Sori away from margin, or, if marginal, protected by indusia opening away from centre of lamina segment
82
79
Lamina < 6 cm wide, glabrous
CHEILANTHES†
Lamina > 6 cm wide, or, if < 6 cm, lamina surfaces hairy
80
80
Ultimate lamina segments with distinct stalks
ADIANTUM
Ultimate lamina segments lacking distinct stalks, partially adnate to midrib
81
81
Each sorus protected by inrolled marginal flap and separate inner indusium
DICKSONIA†
Each sorus protected only by small or vestigial inrolled lamina flap
HYPOLEPIS†
82
Sori confined to lamina margins; indusia ± broadly triangular or slightly elongated along the margin
83
Sori away from margins; indusia narrowly ovate, round, reniform or occasionally 0
84
83
Indusia oblong or slightly elongated along the margin; ultimate lamina segments broadest above middle, blunt-ended
LINDSAEA†
Indusia ± triangular or ovate; ultimate lamina segments very narrow and sharply pointed
LEPTOLEPIA†
84
Indusia 0; long hairs present in sori amongst sporangia
CYATHEA†
Indusia present, or, if 0, long hairs also 0 in sori
85
85
Lamina virtually glabrous; indusia ovate
CYSTOPTERIS
Lamina covered in scales or hairs, or sometimes both; indusia round, reniform or rarely 0
86
86
Lamina densely covered in long hairs (c. 1-2 mm); indusia very small and inconspicuous
MACROTHELYPTERIS†
Lamina lacking hairs, or, if present, < 1 mm long; indusia usually conspicuous, rarely 0
87
87
Indusia round or 0
88
Indusia kidney-shaped
89
88
Rhizome erect; ultimate lamina segments pointed
POLYSTICHUM
Rhizome extensively creeping; ultimate lamina segments round-ended
RUMOHRA†
89
Lamina 3-4-pinnate, hairy and sometimes scaly
LASTREOPSIS†
Lamina 2-3-pinnate, scaly but not hairy
90
90
Rhizome creeping
ARACHNIODES†
Rhizome erect
DRYOPTERIS
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