Herbarium JCB

Lygodium microphyllum (Cav.) R.Br.

Family (Christenhusz et al, 2011) : SCHIZAEACEAE
Family (As per The Plant List) : Lygodiaceae
Species : Lygodium microphyllum
Species Name (as per The Plant List) : Lygodium microphyllum (Cav.) R.Br.
Collection Nos : CJS 12507, CS 11533
Collector(s) Name : C. J. Saldanha; C.J.Saldanha
Key identification features : Climber with rhizome long creeping, covered by dark hairs. Fronds 2-3 m tall, upto 15 cm wide; stipes and rachis brown, adaxially flattened, abaxially rounded, glabrous. Primary branches borne upto 10 cm apart on adaxial side of the rachis, bearing a dormant apex with dense, short hairs; a pair of secondary branches borne subapically; secondary rachis branches pinnate, secondary rachis and stalk of the pinnules narrowly winged above; lateral pinnules upto four pairs, alternate; veins distinct both above and below, free, reaching the margin; pinnules pale green, glabrous above and below; texture herbaceous. Sporangia borne on the surfaces of finger-like lobes all around the margin of the pinnules except at the cordate base, upto six pairs in two rows per lobe, each one covered by an indusium; spores trilete; perineless.
Habit : Climbing fern
Native : Africa; South-East Asia; Australia; Pacific Islands
Comments : A rare species. Climbers on trees in fully exposed marshy places.
Conservation Status : Not Evaluated (NE)
Collection Locality : Hassan; Hassan
Distribution Locality : Chikamagalur; Uttara Kannada; Hassan
Floras referred : Fraser-Jenkins, Taxonomic revision of Indian Subcontinental Pteridophytes 2008