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
Lower Taxa
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 |