Schizaeaceae

Plants terrestrial or epiphytic. Roots numerous. Stems mainly erect, covered with many stiff hairs 1–3 cells long, with simple siphonostele (hollow vascular cylinder). Leaves tufted, monomorphic or dimorphic. Petioles much longer than blades, blades reduced to tiny apical fistlike or radiating groups of rudimentary fertile pinnae ("digits"). Petioles sometimes repeatedly dichotomous, in some species webbed between branches to form fan-shaped false blades. Sporangia arranged in 1–4 ranks on abaxial surface of digits with revolute margins. Annulus subapical, composed of 1–(2–3) layer(s) of thickened cells. Gametophytes subterranean and not green or borne aboveground and green, tuberlike or flattened, cordate or filamentous. Spores bilateral, monolete.

Distribution

Nearly worldwide, mainly in tropical areas.

Discussion

Genera 2–3, species 30 (2 genera, 2 species in the flora).

Selected References

Bierhorst, D. W. 1971. Morphology of Vascular Plants. New York.

Nauman, C. E. 1987. Schizaeaceae in Florida. Sida 12: 69--74.

Lower Taxa

Actinostachys, Schizaea

Illustrations

	Family ⠉	Taxon	Illustrator ⠉
	Schizaeaceae Gleicheniaceae Schizaeaceae	Schizaea pusilla Dicranopteris flexuosa Actinostachys pennula	John Myers John Myers John Myers

Key

1	Fertile blades pinnate, segments arising along rachis on distal 3–10 mm; sterile leaves curling.	Schizaea
1	Fertile blades falsely digitate, segments appearing to arise at single point; sterile leaves absent.	Actinostachys