''Phlebodium'' is a small genus of

fern A fern (Polypodiopsida or Polypodiophyta ) is a member of a group of vascular plants (plants with xylem and phloem) that reproduce via spores and have neither seeds nor flowers. The polypodiophytes include all living pteridophytes except t ...

s in the family

Polypodiaceae Polypodiaceae is a family of ferns. In the Pteridophyte Phylogeny Group classification of 2016 (PPG I), the family includes around 65 genera and an estimated 1,650 species and is placed in the order Polypodiales, suborder Polypodiineae. A broader ...

, subfamily

Polypodioideae Polypodioideae is a subfamily belonging to the fern family Polypodiaceae, which is a member of the suborder Polypodiineae in the Pteridophyte Phylogeny Group classification of 2016 (PPG I). Alternatively, the subfamily may be treated as the ...

, according to the

Pteridophyte Phylogeny Group The Pteridophyte Phylogeny Group, or PPG, is an informal international group of systematic botanists who collaborate to establish a consensus on the classification of pteridophytes (lycophytes and ferns) that reflects knowledge about plant relation ...

classification of 2016 (PPG I). It is native to tropical and subtropical regions of the

Americas The Americas, which are sometimes collectively called America, are a landmass comprising the totality of North and South America. The Americas make up most of the land in Earth's Western Hemisphere and comprise the New World. Along with th ...

.Ferns of the World
''Phlebodium''
Flora of North America
''Phlebodium''
/ref>Germplasm Resources Information Network
''Phlebodium''
/ref> Its species were formerly included in ''

Polypodium ''Polypodium'' is a genus of ferns in the family Polypodiaceae, subfamily Polypodioideae, according to the Pteridophyte Phylogeny Group classification of 2016 (PPG I). The genus is widely distributed throughout the world, with the highest ...

''. They are

epiphytic An epiphyte is an organism that grows on the surface of a plant and derives its moisture and nutrients from the air, rain, water (in marine environments) or from debris accumulating around it. The plants on which epiphytes grow are called phoroph ...

ferns, with a creeping, densely hairy or scaly

rhizome In botany and dendrology, a rhizome (; , ) is a modified subterranean plant stem that sends out roots and shoots from its nodes. Rhizomes are also called creeping rootstalks or just rootstalks. Rhizomes develop from axillary buds and grow hori ...

bearing

frond A frond is a large, divided leaf. In both common usage and botanical nomenclature, the leaves of ferns are referred to as fronds and some botanists restrict the term to this group. Other botanists allow the term frond to also apply to the lar ...

s at intervals along its length. The fronds are evergreen, persisting for 1–2 years, and are pinnatifid. The sori or groups of spore-cases (

sporangia A sporangium (; from Late Latin, ) is an enclosure in which spores are formed. It can be composed of a single cell or can be multicellular. Virtually all plants, fungi, and many other lineages form sporangia at some point in their life cy ...

) are borne on the back of the frond.

Species

, ''Checklist of Ferns and Lycophytes of the World'' accepted the following species: *''

Phlebodium areolatum ''Phlebodium areolatum'', the Virginia blue fern, is a species of epiphytic fern in the family Polypodiaceae. It is native to the New World Tropics and Subtropics; Mexico, Florida, some of the Caribbean islands, Central America, and South America ...

'' (Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd.) J.Sm., including ''Phlebodium araneosum'' (M.Martens & Galeotti) Mickel & Beitel and ''Phlebodium pseudoaureum'' (Cav.) Lellinger *''

Phlebodium aureum ''Phlebodium aureum'' (golden polypody, golden serpent fern, cabbage palm fern, gold-foot fern, blue-star fern, hare-foot fern; syn. ''Polypodium aureum'', ''Polypodium leucotomos'') is an epiphytic fern native to tropical and subtropical region ...

'' (L.) J.Sm. *'' Phlebodium decumanum'' (Willd.) J.Sm.

References

{{Taxonbar, from1=Q2618227, from2=Q17335584 Polypodiaceae Epiphytes Fern genera

Species

See also

References