Psilotaceae

Plants perennial, terrestrial or epiphytic, with corallike, rhizoid-bearing, branched, subterranean axes. Roots absent. Aerial shoots simple or dichotomously branched; appendages leaflike or bractlike, alternate to subopposite, veinless or 1-veined, less than 1 cm. Synangia globose, of 2–3 fused, homosporous eusporangia, solitary in axils of shoot appendages, dehiscing loculicidally. Spores many, reniform, not green. Gametophytes subterranean, mycotrophic, fleshy, elongate, and branched.

Distribution

Worldwide in tropical regions.

Discussion

Genera 2, species 4–8 (1 genus, 1 species in the flora).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Psilotum

Illustrations

	Family ⠉	Taxon	Illustrator ⠉
	Lycopodiaceae Lycopodiaceae Lycopodiaceae Psilotaceae Lycopodiaceae	Huperzia selago Huperzia lucidula Phlegmariurus dichotomus Psilotum nudum Huperzia appalachiana	Bobbi Angell Bobbi Angell Bobbi Angell Bobbi Angell Bobbi Angell