Plants terrestrial. Stems branched, slender. Leaves often more than several meters, 2-pinnate or more divided, climbing by means of twining rachis; fertile pinnae borne toward apex of fertile leaves. Blades of short, alternate primary pinnae. Pinnules ± entire to palmately or pinnately lobed; fertile and sterile pinnae similar or fertile pinnae greatly contracted.

Distribution

Nearly worldwide, mostly tropical regions, a few species in temperate regions, North America, Asia in Japan, s Africa, Pacific Islands in New Zealand.

Discussion

Species ca. 40 (3 in the flora).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Lygodium japonicum, Lygodium microphyllum, Lygodium palmatum

Key

1	Pinnules palmately lobed, sterile tissue nearly absent on fertile lobes; petioles borne 1–4 cm apart.	Lygodium palmatum
1	Pinnules 1-pinnate to palmately lobed, sterile tissue present on fertile lobes; petioles borne less than 1 cm apart.	> 2
2	Pinnules usually 1-pinnate, primary divisions mostly undivided, usually without basal lobes; lobes absent or rounded, auriculate, not directed toward leaf apex; ultimate segments articulate to petiolules, leaving wiry stalks when detached; blade tissue glabrous abaxially.	Lygodium microphyllum
2	Pinnules usually more than 1-pinnate, primary divisions pinnately to palmately lobed or divided, or if undivided with distinct basal lobes; lobes directed toward leaf apex; ultimate segments not articulate to petiolules, not leaving wiry stalks when detached; blade tissue sparsely to moderately pubescent abaxially.	Lygodium japonicum