铁线蕨科
Lin Youxing [insert Chinese name)]; Jefferson Prado
Ferns, terrestrial or epipetric (growing on rocks), medium-sized or small; outlines highly variable. Rhizomes short and erect, or long and creeping, with siphonostele, covered with scales; scales brown or black, lanceolate, thick in texture, usually entire. Fronds monomorphic, whorled and clustered, scattered in 2 rows or compact, not articulate; stipe black or reddish brown, polished [??or use shiny: throughout ms], fine and rounded, hard as iron wire, with 1 or 2 vascular bundles and combined into one upward; lamina mostly 13 or more pinnate or 13 dichotomously palmately branching, rarely entire and orbicular-flabellate, herbaceous or papery, less often leathery or membranous; rachises, costae, and stalks same color as stipe; ultimate pinnae different in shape, ovate, flabellate, orbicular-flabellate, or dimidiate, margins serrate, lobed, or entire, sometimes jointed, usually fallen when dry. Veins free, simple or furcate, or radiate, rarely anastomosing, and reaching margins, visible on both sides of lamina. Sori borne on veins of recurved, membranous margins (false indusium); shape of false indusium highly variable, orbicular, reniform, lunate, elongated-square, or oblong, free or continuing, upper margins of false indusia forming deep sinus, retuse or truncate; sporangia globose, long-stalked, annuli erect; mostly consisting of 1828 incrassate cells; spores yellowish, tetrahedric, trilete, transparent, smooth and experine.
More than 200 species, from cold temperate zone to tropics, most in South America. Two genera: Adiantum, which is distributed worldwide, and Hewardia, restricted to South America. The family is usually considered monotypic with the single genus Adiantum. Thirty-one species in China (16 endemic).
铁线蕨属 [vernacular name]
Characters same as the family.
More than 200 species, from cold temperate zone to tropics, most in South America. Thirty-one species in China (16 endemic). x = 15(30), 29.
Adiantum chusana = Stenoloma chusanum
Adiantum orbiculatum = Lindsaea orbiculata
Adiantum repens = Humata repens
[??what about the following names]
[??]Adiantum capillus-veneris f. fissum (Christ) Ching = A. capillus-veneris var. fissum Christ
[??]Adiantum formosanum Tagawa, J. Jap. Bot. 14: 315. 1938; Kuo in Taiwania 30: 21. 1985.
[??]Adiantum lingii Ching [Fl. Sichuan]
[??]Adiantum myriosorum var. recurvatum Ching & Y. X. Lin [Fl. Zhejiang]
[??]Adiantum subpedatum Ching [Fl. Zhejiang]
1a. Fronds entire, suborbicular or orbicular-reniform ......................... 1. A. reniforme var. sinense
1b. Fronds pinnate or more divided.
2a. Lamina pinnate, lanceolate or linear-lanceolate.
3a. Pinnae entire, after dry easily fallen from joint at end of stalks.
4a. Plants small, creeping, 1.53 cm tall, with 35 small orbicular pinnae; indusia orbicular, upper margins truncate, one per pinna ...................................................................... 2. A. mariesii
4b. Plants erect, above 3 cm tall, usually with 57 or more flabellate pinnae; indusia reniform or elongated, upper margins retuse or truncate, one to numerous per pinna.
5a. Plants soft and weak, stipes fine as hairs; lamina narrowly flabellate, thin in texture, stipes 1/31/2 as long as pinnae; distributed in N Guangdong ......................... 3. A. lianxianense
5b. Plants strong, stipes robust; lamina broadly flabellate, stipes less than 1/5 as long as lamina.
6a. Lamina obtriangular, indusia depressed at upper margins, scale margins denticulate 4. A. gravesii
6b. Lamina orbicular-flabellate or obtriangular, indusia truncate at upper margins, scale margins entire.
7a. Lamina orbicular-flabellate, sori usually 3 or 4 per pinna . 5. A. juxtapositum
7b. Lamina obtriangular, sori 1(or 2) per pinna .............................. 6. A. chienii
3b. Lamina ± divided, after dry not easily fallen from end of stalks (except #18. A. induratum).
8a. Apices of rachises not prolonged into whiplike structure ................ 19. A. diaphanum
8b. Apices of rachises usually elongated and whiplike.
9a. Stipes, rachises, and both sides of lamina multicellular brown hirsute.
10a. Laminal upper margins lobed into 3 or 4 short broad lobes; distributed in Yunnan only, rare 9. A. sinicum
10b. Laminal upper margins lobed into numerous elongate lobes; widely distributed in provinces and region of S Changjiong [check spelling] River, common.
11a. Laminal pinnae on lower parts gradually reduced; pair of pinnae at lowest parts smallest; sparse hairs on abaxial surfaces of rachises and surfaces of lamina, abaxial hairs facing all directions; scales of rhizomes entire on margins .................. 7. A. caudatum
11b. Laminal pinnae on lower parts not reduced, pair of pinnae at lowest parts flabellate; dense hairs on abaxial surfaces of rachises and laminas, where hairs appressed and facing laminal front; scales of rhizomes serrate on margins .................... 8. A. malesianum
9b. Stipes, rachises, and both sides of lamina glabrous or occasionally with 1 or 2 stiff hairs (slightly hirsute).
12a. Stipes, rachises, and stalks with membranous, brown wings on both lateral sides 10. A. suboliferum
12b. Stipes, rachises, and stalks without wings.
13a. Pinnae semidimidiate, nearly sessile .............................. 13. A. edgeworthii
13b. Pinnae semilunar, orbicular-flabellate, or orbicular, with longer stalks.
14a. Pinnae lunate, asymmetric at base, stalks ca. 1 cm 11. A. philippense or lunulatum[??]
14b. Pinnae orbicular-flabellate or orbicular, symmetric at base, stalks 23 mm 12. A. capillus-junonis
2b. Fronds 13-dichotomously branched or 24-pinnate, flabellate, palmate.
15a. Fronds 13-palmate, dichotomously branched.
16a. Fronds 1-dichotomously palmate branched, with 26(or 8) 1-pinnate pinnae per branch.
17a. Upper margins of pinnules parted to 1/31/2 length of lamina and bluntly serrate at apices, abaxially green; indusia retuse at upper margins ......................................... 14. A. pedatum
17b. Upper margins of pinnules lobes and with triangular acute serrations at apices, abaxially glaucous; indusia deeply sinuate at upper margins .................................. 15. A. myriosorum
16b. Fronds 2- or 3-dichotomously branched, or nearly dichotomously branched, first branches with 1-pinnate pinnae from both sides of branch.
18a. Whole plants including indusia covered with hairs ...................... 16. A. pubescens
18b. Plants covered with hairs on costae and stalks, glabrous on pinnal surfaces and indusia 17. A. flabellulatum
15b. Fronds 24-pinnate.
19a. Pinnules covered with loose deep brown appressed needlelike long setae on abaxial surface, or brown hispidulous on stipes, branches, and stalks.
20a. Stipes, costae, and stalks brown hispidulous ............................... 18. A. induratum
20b. Pinnules with sparse deep brown and appressed needlelike long setae 19. A. diaphanum
19b. Abaxial surfaces of pinnules, stipes, branches, and stalks glabrous.
21a. Lamina usually roughly divided, pinnules large, usually asymmetrically obliquely flabellate and upper margins divided to different degrees.
22a. Pinnule segments entire, at least indistinctly undulate at apex .. 30. A. refractum
22b. Apex of pinnule segments erose-dentate ...................... 31. A. capillus-veneris
21b. Lamina finely divided, ultimate pinnules ca. 1 cm long and wide, upper margins undivided, flabellate, ovate or obtriangular, bases cuneate.
23a. Pinnules entire at upper margins or sterile pinnules and fertile pinnules in sterile parts with triangular blunt teeth or undulate-crenate raised at upper margins; pinnae herbaceous.
24a. Rhizome long creeping; upper margin of pinnules with distinct thick triangular serrations at upper margins ........................................................... 27. A. monochlamys
24b. Rhizome shortly creeping or ascending; upper margin of pinnules entire or undulate-crenate at upper margins.
25a. Upper margin of pinnules undulate-crenate; sori mostly 1 per pinnule 28. A. erythrochlamys
25b. Upper margin of pinnules entire, sori mostly 2 per pinnule 29. A. roborowskii
23b. Pinnules with fine sharp dense teeth at upper margins, lamina thinly herbaceous or papery.
26a. Plants small, to 10 cm tall, 2-pinnate; indusia rectangular, truncate at upper margins, length nearly equal to width of pinnules ..................................... 20. A. fengianum
26b. Plants large, more than 15 cm tall, usually 3-pinnate; indusia orbicular, orbicular-reniform, or oblong.
27a. Stipes densely covered with brownish, multicellular long setae (leaving marks and rough feeling after fallen) on bases .................................... 21. A. bonatianum
27b. Stipes glabrous at base.
28a. Rachises, costae of stalk joints covered with brown, multicellular, articulate hairs; pinnules hard papery ................................................... 22. A. davidii
28b. Rachises, costae of stalk joints without hairs; pinnules herbaceous.
29a. Sori orbicular or reniform, upper margins sinuses or curved.
30a. Indusia orbicular, upper margins sinuses, veins of pinnule distinctly raised, abaxially green .............................................. 23. A. venustum
30b. Indusia reniform, upper margins curved, veins of pinnule indistinct, abaxially glaucous ........................................................ 24. A. tibeticum
29b. Indusia elongated or orbicular-reniform, truncate or slightly curved at upper margins.
31a. Pinnules with long and sharp serrations at upper margins 25. A. fimbriatum
31b. Pinnules with short and obtuse serrations at upper margins 26. A. breviserratum
荷叶铁线蕨 [vernacular name]
Plants 520 cm tall. Rhizomes erect, short, with brown lanceolate scales and multicellular villous. Fronds clustered, simple; stipe deep castaneous, 314 cm, thick, 0.51.5 mm in diam., densely scaly and villous at bases, upward to ends of stipe villous but hairs easily fallen after dry; lamina orbicular or orbicular-reniform, 26 cm in diam., upper part with one deep or shallow sinus at joint of stipe, biauricules sometimes expanding and overlapping, forming 13 concentric rings around joint of stipe, margins bluntly crenate but crenation indistinct on fertile lamina, adaxially loosely brown multicellular villous. Veins radiate from bases to all sides, multidichotomous, visible on both sides. Fronds herb-greenish after dry, dark brown upon natural drying, papery or hard papery. Indusia deep brown, orbicular or subrectangular, membranous, flat and straight at upper margins and spreading along margins, approximate or with intervals, persistent. 2n = 120*.
* Gregarious on rocks or in rock crevices; ca. 300 m. Sichuan (Shizhu).
This plant is endangered in its native habitat by road building and collection for medicinal use (Fu, L. K. & Jin, J. M. 1992. China Red Data Book Rare and Endangered Plants 1: 23). It is now cultivated (e.g., in the Wuhan Botanical Garden) as an ornamental.
Adiantum reniforme var. sinense has been used in Chinese medicine for more than 100 years, known as 荷叶金钱草 he ye jing quan cao in Sichuan. The whole plants are used to clear away heat and toxic materials, promote diuresis, and to treat hepatitis of a type infecting urinary organs, urinary stones, and middle ear infections.
[The typical variety occurs in ??]
小铁线蕨 xiao tie xian jue
Adiantum acrocarpum H. Christ, [acrocarpon]; A. nanum Ching.
Plants epipetric, small, 23 cm tall, spreading on land. Rhizomes erect, short, covered with black-brown lanceolate scales, scale margins entire. Fronds clustered; stipe deep castaneous, fine as silk, ca. 1 cm; lamina abaxially slightly pale blue-grayish, adaxially brown-green and polished, ovate, ca. 2 Χ 1 cm, 1-pinnate, papery, abaxially glabrous; pinnae 13 pairs, subopposite, obliquely spreading, orbicular or subovate-orbicular, 2.54 Χ 2.54 mm, upper margin rounded and with indistinct sinuses in middle, base rounded or rounded-cuneate, lateral margins entire or slightly undulate, stalked, stalk 12 mm and articulate, pinnae easily fallen from ends of stalks when dry; terminal pinnae same shape as lateral ones. Veins simple, 4 forked veinlets arising from base to margins, visible on both sides of lamina; costae and stalks same color as stipe, polished. Sori one per pinna; indusia brown, orbicular, upper margins flat and straight, slightly depressed, persistent.
* Usually gregarious on wet limestone cliffs; ca. 200 m. Guangxi, Guizhou, Hubei, Sichuan.
The type specimen was collected from Hubei (Badong).
粤铁线蕨 yue tie xian jue
Adiantum gravesii Ching [??validly published], not Hance (1875).
Plants 57 cm tall. Rhizomes erect, short, covered with black lanceolate scales. Fronds clustered; stipe castaneous-black, slightly polished, 23 cm, fine as hairs, smooth; lamina oblong, 35 Χ 11.5 cm, 1-imparipinnate; pinnae 3 or 4 pairs, opposite, obliquely spreading, distance 69 mm, narrowly ovate or narrowly flabellate, 46 Χ 2.54 mm, upper margins subtruncate, with one sinus at middle, entire, slightly undulate, bases cuneate, both lateral sides entire and undulate; stalks 1.54 mm, 1/31/2 as long as pinna, articulate at ends, when dry pinna easily fallen from joint at end but stalk persistent; terminal pinnae same shape as and slightly larger than lateral pinnae. Veins simple, 4 forked veinlets arising from bases, visible on both surfaces. Fronds after dry papery, brownish green, glabrous on both surfaces; costae and stalks same color as stipe, slightly polished. Sori 1 on pinna; indusia brown, reniform or elliptic, leathery, upper margins depressed, persistent.
* Gregarious on wet calcareous rocks and calcitic soils. Guangdong (Lianxian).
白垩铁线蕨 bai e tie jue
Adiantum greenii Ching; A. leveillei H. Christ.
Plants terrestrial, 414 cm tall. Rhizomes erect, short, covered with black, subulate-lanceolate scales, scale margins denticulate. Fronds clustered; stipe castaneous-black, polished, 16 cm, slender, smooth; lamina abaxially glaucous, adaxially grayish green, oblong or ovate-lanceolate, 36 Χ 22.5 cm, papery, both surfaces glabrous, 1-pinnate; pinna 24 pairs, alternate, oblique upward, 12 cm spaced; pinnae broadly obovate or broadly ovate-triangular, ca. 1 Χ 1 cm, apex rounded, with one (rarely 2) shallow sinus(es), entire, base rounded-cuneate or rounded, both lateral sides slightly undulate, stalked; stalk up to 3 mm (ca. 1/5 as long as pinna or shorter), articulate, pinnae after dry easily fallen from end of stalk but stalk persistent; terminal pinnae same shape as lateral pinnae and slightly larger. Veins dichotomously branching, and reaching cartilaginous margins, visible on both lamina surfaces; costae and stalks same color as stipes, polished. Sori 1 (rarely 2) per pinna; indusia brown, reniform or lunate (rarely orbicular), leathery, upper margin depressed, persistent.
Gregarious on wet cliffs, in rock crevices, on chalky soils in caves; 6001500 m. Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan, [??add]Sichuan, Yunnan, [??add]Zhejiang [N Vietnam].
The type specimen was collected from Guizhou.
Adiantum gravesii is nearly similar to Adiantum lianxianense Ching & Y. X. Lin, but differs in plants being taller and stronger, having larger pinnae broadly ovate or broadly obovate-triangular, abaxially glaucous, and stalks shorter.
仙霞铁线蕨 xian xia tie jue
Plants 820 cm tall. Rhizomes erect, short, covered with black lanceolate scales at apices. Fronds clustered; stipe castaneous, polished, 29 cm, thick, ca. 1 mm in diam., smooth; lamina lanceolate, 411 Χ 1.53 cm, imparipinnate; pinnae 59 pairs, opposite, nearly alternate upward, horizontally spreading; pinnules orbicular or broadly orbicular-flabellate (rarely obtriangular), ca. 1 Χ 1.21.5 cm, upper margins rounded, slightly undulate, bases rounded-cuneate (rarely cuneate); stalk 23 mm, articulate at end, after dry pinnules easily fallen from end but stalk persistent; upper pinnules slightly smaller, obtriangular or flabellate. Veins multidichotomously branching and reaching cartilaginous margins, visible on both surfaces. Fronds when dry subleathery, adaxially herb-greenish, abaxially glaucous and glabrous; costae and stalks same color as stipes, polished, smooth. Sori usually 3 or 4 (rarely 1, 2, or 6) per pinnule; indusia black, orbicular or orbicular-reniform (rarely elongated), leathery, upper margins flat and straight or slightly depressed, entire or slightly undulate, persistent. Perines of spores with indistinct granulate ornamentation.
* Limestone crevices. N Fujian (Xian Xia Shan), [??add]Zhejiang.
北江铁线蕨 bei jiang tie xian jue
Plants usually 2030 cm tall. Rhizomes erect, short, covered with castaneous-brown, linear scales at apices. Fronds clustered; stipe castaneous-black, polished, 510 cm, thick, ca. 1 mm in diam., smooth; lamina opposite or subopposite, linear-lanceolate, 1318 Χ 34 cm, horizontally spreading, ca. 2 cm spaced; pinnules obovate-triangular, ca. 1.5 Χ 1.5 cm, truncate at upper margins, entire, bases rounded or rounded-cuneate; stalk 23 mm, articulate at end, after dry pinnules fallen from joint at end but stalk persistent, upper pinnules same shape as lateral pinnules but smaller. Veins multidichotomously branching, reaching cartilaginous margins, visible on both surfaces. Fronds after dry papery, brownish, polished adaxially, glaucous and glabrous abaxially; costae and stalks same color as stipes, polished. Pinnules each with 1(or 2) sorus(sori); indusia brown, rectangular, up to 1 cm, leathery, upper margins flat and straight, entire, persistent.
* Guangdong (Beijiang).
The outline of Adiantum chienii is similar to A. gravesii Hance; the plant differs by being much taller and larger, and the indusia narrowly linear, horizontally attached at upper margin.
鞭叶铁线蕨 bian ye tie xian jue
Adiantum caudatum var. angustilobatum Bonaparte; A. lyratum Blanco.
Plants terrestrial or epipetric, 1040 cm tall. Rhizomes erect, short, covered with deep castaneous, lanceolate scales, scale margins entire. Fronds clustered; stipe castaneous, 110 cm, densely dark brown or brownish multicellular hirsute; lamina brown-green or brownish green, lanceolate, 1530 Χ 24 cm, papery, sparsely multicellular hirsute and densely pubescent on both surfaces, slightly angustate to base, 1-pinnate; pinnae 2044 pairs, alternate, or lower ones subopposite, horizontally spreading or slightly obliquely spreading, 58 mm spaced; lower pinnae gradually reduced, middle ones semidimidiate, suboblong, 0.72 Χ 0.61 cm, upper and outer margins deeply parted or parted into many narrow segments, lower margins nearly straight and entire, base asymmetric, upper side truncate; segments linear, truncate at apex, entire on margins, upper part again lobed into fine linear segments, fine segments truncate or few dentate at apex; upper pinnae same shape as lower pinnae, but gradually becoming smaller upward, nearly sessile. Veins multidichotomously branching, visible on both lamina surfaces; rachises same color as stipe and similarly sparsely hirsute, but partly fallen when old, apex usually prolonged into a whiplike stolon and rooting for asexual reproduction. Sori 512 per pinna; indusia dark brown, orbicular or oblong, hairy, upper margins flat and straight, entire, persistent. Perispores with granulate ornamentation. One sporangium containing 32 spores (from Hainan materials). 2n = 90.
On rocks or in rock crevices of forest understories or mountain valleys; 1001200 m. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, [??add]Jiangxi, [??add]Sichuan, Taiwan, Yunnan, [??add]Zhejiang [India, Indochina, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines; tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Asia].
假鞭叶铁线蕨 jia bian ye tie xian jue
Adiantum caudatum Beddome [??, not Linnaeus 1771]; A. caudatum Linnaeus var. latilobatum Bonaparte.
Plants terrestrial or epipetric, 1040 cm tall. Rhizomes erect, short, densely covered with scales; scales brown, lanceolate, scale margins dentate. Fronds clustered; stipe brown when young, castaneous-black and partly fallen when old, 320 cm, base covered with same brown scales as rhizome and multicellular articulate hairs on whole stipe; lamina brown-green, linear-lanceolate, 1220 Χ 1.53 cm, papery, sparsely covered with short hairs adaxially, densely covered with brown multicellular stiff hairs abaxially, with appressed short hairs facing outer margins, attenuate upward, base not angustate, 1-pinnate; pinnae 1830 pairs, sessile to shortly stalked, stalk ca. 1 mm, horizontally spreading, alternate or subopposite, ca. 1 cm spaced; pair of proximal pinnae suborbicular flabellate, ± reflexed downward; middle lateral pinnae dimidiate, 0,72 Χ 0.61 cm, upper and outer margins parted; segments 5 or 6 pairs per pinna, rectangular, depressed at apex, lower and inner margins flat and straight; terminal pinnae subtriangular, upper margins rounded and parted. Veins multidichotomously forked, distinctly raised adaxially and less visible abaxially; rachises same color as stipes and densely covered with same stiff hairs; apex of rachis generally prolonged into a whiplike stolon and rooting for asexual reproduction. Sori 512 per pinna; indusia brown, orbicular-reniform, papery, upper margins flat and straight, densely covered with hairs adaxially, entire, persistent.
On rocks or in rock crevices under thickets on slopes; 2001400 m. Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Hunan, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Taiwan, Yunnan [India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam; Malesia, Polynesia].
苍山铁线蕨 cang shan tie xian jue
Plants 1530 cm tall. Rhizomes erect, short, covered with subentire lanceolate scales. Fronds clustered; stipe castaneous-black, 412 cm, densely rufous-brown multicellular villous; lamina sessile, lanceolate, 1215 Χ 1.22.4 cm, apices acuminate, 1-imparipinnate; pinnae ca. 2025 pairs, alternate, horizontally spreading (basal pair usually reflexed obliquely downward), basal pair of pinnae nearly not reduced and same shape as upper pinnae; lateral pinnae semidimidiate, 11.4 Χ 0.40.6 cm, lower margins straight and entire, inner margins nearly straight, bases asymmetrical; segments truncate and obtuse at apices, entire or undulate-crenate; upper pinnae same shape as lower ones but gradually becoming smaller upward; terminal pinna small, obtriangular, outer margins rounded and 25-lobed, bases cuneate. Veins multidichotomously forked, visible on both sides. Fronds after dry papery, greenish or herb-green, covered with brown multicellular stiff hairs abaxially and loose short hairs adaxially; costae same color as stipes, polished, also with stiff hairs, apex occasionally prolonged into a whiplike stolon and rooting for asexual reproduction. Sori 2 or 3 on pinna; indusia dark brown, rectangular, papery, upper margins flat and straight, hairy on upper sides, entire, persistent.
* On soil by sides of limestone rocks; ca. 1600 m. Yunnan.
翅柄铁线蕨 chi bing tie xian jue
Adiantum alatum Copeland; A. balansae Baker; A. caudatum Linnaeus var. soboliferum (Wallich ex Hooker) Beddome; A. dolabriforme Hooker; A. mettenii Kuhn (1881), not 1868 (nomen); A. lunulatum N. L. Burman var. mettenii Beddome.
Plants ?terrestrial, 2530 cm tall. Rhizomes erect, short, covered with dark brown linear-lanceolate scales, scale margins entire. Fronds clustered; stipe castaneous-black, polished, 916 cm, with one brown membranous narrow wing on each side, base covered with same scales as rhizome, upward glabrous; lamina brownish green, lanceolate, 920 Χ 3.55.5 cm, papery, glabrous on both surfaces, 1-pinnate; pinnae 510 pairs, alternate, horizontally spreading or 1 or 2 lower pair(s) slightly reflexed, stalked; stalk 24 mm, articulate, after dry pinnae fallen from joints but stalk persistent; pinnae below middle equal in size, dimidiate, suboblong, 23.3 Χ 0.91.4 cm, upper and outer margins obtuse and 46-lobed, lower and inner margins nearly flat and straight, base asymmetrically broadly cuneate; distal pinnae same shape and slightly smaller than lower pinnae; terminal pinnae flabellate, outer margin with 36 sinuses and bases cuneate. Veins multidichotomously furcate, reaching cartilaginous margins, visible on both sides of lamina; rachises and stalks same color as stipes, polished, with brown membranous narrow wings on both sides, apex of rachis (usually sterile one) prolonged into whiplike stolon and rooting for asexual reproduction. Sori 37 per pinna; indusia dark brown, elliptic or reniform, papery, upper margins flat and straight, entire, persistent. Perispores with granulate ornamentation. 2n = 120.
Wet forest soils. Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Taiwan, N Yunnan [India, Indonesia, Nepal, Philippines, Vietnam; tropics and subtropics of N Africa and Asia].
半月形铁线蕨 ban yue xing tie xian jue
Adiantum arcuatum (Poiret) Swartz; A. lunatum Cavanilles; Polypodium arcuatum Poiret; Pteris lunulata Retzius.
Plants terrestrial or epipetric, 1050 cm. tall. Rhizomes erect, short, covered with dark brown lanceolate scales, scale margins denticulate. Fronds clustered; stipe castaneous, polished, 625 cm, base with same scales as rhizome, upward glabrous; lamina herb-green or brown-green, lanceolate, 1225 Χ 26.5 cm, herbaceous, glabrous on both surfaces, 1-pinnate; pinnae 612 pairs, alternate, obliquely spreading, pinnae below middle nearly equal in size, dimidiate-lunate or semiorbicular-reniform, 14 Χ 12.3 cm, apex obtuse or bent downward, upper margin rounded, fertile pinnae subentire or with 24 shallow sinuses, or slightly undulate; sterile pinnae margins undulate-lobed, segments obtuse and serrulate at apex, lower margins entire, truncate or slightly bent downward, rarely broadly cuneate, both lateral sides asymmetric, stalked; stalk 12 cm, articulate; pinnae when old easily fallen from joint and stalk persistent, upper pinnae slightly smaller; terminal pinnae flabellate, slightly larger than lower lateral pinnae. Veins multidichotomously forked and reaching margins, visible on both sides of lamina; costae and stalks same color as stipes, polished, glabrous; rachises terete, apex usually prolonged into a whiplike stolon and rooting for asexual reproduction. Sori 26 per pinna; indusia dark brown or brown-green, linear-oblong, membranous, upper margins flat and straight or slightly depressed, entire, persistent; perispores with fine granulate ornamentation.
Gregarious on shaded and wet places or on acid soil of forest understories, sometimes rupiculous; 2002000 m. Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Sichuan, Taiwan, Yunnan [India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam; tropics and subtropics of Africa, Oceania].
An indicator of acidic soils, Adiantum philippense grows in soils of pH 4.55.
团羽铁线蕨 tuan yu tie xian jue
Adiantum cantoniense Hance, [??contonense].
Plants epipetric, 820 cm tall. Rhizomes erect, short, covered with deep brown lanceolate scales, scale margins entire. Fronds clustered; stipe deep castaneous, polished, 26 cm, slender as iron wire, base covered with same scales as rhizome, glabrous upward; lamina herb-green, lanceolate, 815 Χ 2.53.5 cm, membranous, glabrous on both surfaces, 1-pinnate; pinnae 48 pairs, lower pinnae opposite, subopposite on upper ones, oblique upward, stalked; stalk 23 mm, articulate; pinnae after dry easily fallen from joint and stalk, persistent; lower several pairs of pinnae nearly equal in size, 1.11.6 Χ 1.52 cm, orbicular-flabellate or orbicular, bases symmetrically rounded-cuneate or rounded, lateral sides entire, upper margins rounded, fertile pinnae with 25 shallow sinuses, denticulate on sterile parts; upper margin of sterile pinnae denticulate; distal and terminal pinnae same shape as lower pinnae but smaller. Veins multidichotomously forked, reaching margins, visible on both sides of lamina; costae and stalks castaneous, polished, apex of rachis usually prolonged into a whiplike stolon and rooting for asexual reproduction. Sori 15 per pinna; indusia brown, orbicular or reniform, papery, upper margins flat and straight, persistent. Perispores with granulate ornamentation.
Gregarious on wet limestone, in basal crevices of walls, shaded and wet chalky soil; 3002500 m. Gansu, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hebei, Henan, [??add]Liaoning, Shandong, [??add]Shanxi, Sichuan, Taiwan, Yunnan [Japan].
The type specimen was collected in Beijing.
普通铁线蕨 pu tong tie xian jue
Adiantum caudatum Linnaeus var. edgeworthii (Hooker) Beddome; A. caudatum var. rhizophorum Wallich ex C. B. Clarke; A. edgeworthii var. specerianum (Copeland) Tagawa; A. guilelmi Hance; A. spencerianum Copeland.
Plants terrestrial, 1030 cm tall. Rhizomes erect, short, covered with black-brown lanceolate scales, scale margins denticulate. Fronds clustered; stipe dark purplish, polished, 416 cm, base covered with scales, upper part smooth; lamina dark brownish or brownish green, linear-lanceolate, 623 Χ 23 cm, papery, glabrous on both surfaces, base nearly attenuate, 1-pinnate, apex acuminate; rachis castaneous, polished, smooth, apices usually prolonged into a whiplike stolon and rooting for asexual reproduction; pinnae 1030 pairs, opposite or alternate, horizontally spreading, shortly stalked, stalk ca. 1 mm, approximate, if rachis prolonged into a whiplike stolon then upper pinnae gradually becoming far apart from each other; middle pinnae dimidiate, 11.5 Χ 0.50.8 cm, apex acute or obtuse, base asymmetric and acroscopic side truncate, upper margins 25-lobed, lower and inner margins straight and entire; segments suborbicular, entire or slightly undulate; several basal pairs of pinnae same shape as middle pinnae but smaller and slightly reflexed, upper pinnae same shape as middle pinnae but gradually becoming smaller upward, terminal pinna subflabellate, upper margins parted, base cuneate. Veins multidichotomously forked, visible on both sides of lamina; rachises with sparse reddish brown linear scales. Sori 25 per pinna, borne at apex of segments; indusia orbicular or oblong, membranous, upper margins flat and straight, entire, persistent. Perispores with granulate ornamentation.
Shaded and wet places, on rocks; 7002500 m. Gansu, Hebei, Henan, [??add]Liaoning, Shandong, Sichuan, Taiwan, Xizang, Yunnan [N India, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Vietnam].
掌叶铁线蕨 zhang ye tie xian jue
Adiantum boreale C. Presl; A. pedatum var. aleuticum Ruprecht; A. pedatum var. glaucinum C. Christensen (1927), non H. Christ (1898); A. pedatum var. kamtschaticum Ruprecht.
Plants terrestrial, 4060 cm tall. Rhizomes erect or decumbent, covered with dark brown, broadly lanceolate scales, scale margins entire. Fronds clustered or approximate; stipe castaneous or brown, 2040 cm, covered with same scales as rhizome, glabrous upward and polished; lamina herb-green, broadly flabellate, up to 30 Χ 40 cm, herbaceous, glabrous on both surfaces, dichotomously branching from end of stipe, with 46 lateral pinnae 1-pinnate; pinnae linear-lanceolate on each branch, middle pinnae longest, up to 28 cm, lateral pinnae toward outside slightly shorter, 2.53.5 cm wide, 1-pinnate; pinnules 2030 pairs per pinna, alternate, obliquely spreading, stalked, stalk 12.5 cm; middle pinnules dimidiate, ca. 2 Χ 0.6 cm, narrowly triangular, apex obtuse, base asymmetric, cuneate, inner and lower margins straight and entire, apex undulate or with blunt teeth, upper margin parted to half; segments squarelike, entire or depressed at middle or undulate-crenate; proximal pinnules slightly smaller, flabellate or semiorbicular, with longer stalks; distal pinnules same shape as middle pinnules and gradually becoming smaller upward, terminal pinnules flabellate, parted at middle, bilateral sides lobed, equal in size or slightly larger than middle pinnules; pinnules on each lateral pinna same shape as middle pinnules. Veins multidichotomously forked, reaching margin, visible on both sides of lamina; rachises and stalks castaneous-red, polished, glabrous. Sori 46 per pinnule, horizontally attached in shallow sinuses; indusia grayish green or dark brown, orbicular or reniform, membranous, entire, persistent. Perispores with granulate ornamentation.
Near stream margins of forest understories; 3003500 m. Gansu, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Henan, Jilin, Liaoning, [??add]Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan [Japan, Korea, S Himalayas [??India]; North America].
The whole plant is used to promote diuresis and to stop bleeding for dysuria, stanguria, toothaches, menorrhagia, and is also used to clear away lung-heat and relieve coughs.
灰背铁线蕨 [vernacular name]
Adiantum pedatum Linnaeus var. glaucinum H. Christ; A. pedatum var. myriosorum (Baker) H. Christ; A. pedatum var. protrusum H. Christ.
[convert this to standard description format] [from Fl. Taiwan: Rhizome erect or ascending, short, scaly at growing apex. Stipe nearly black, polished, 1225 cm; lamina 2535 cm, dichotomously branching, each branch with 37 pinnate pinnae; pinnules triangular-elliptic, dimidiate, petiolulate, upper margin serrate. Sori orbicular or reniform.] Similar to Adiantum pedatum in form and size, but differs by lamina distinctly glaucous abaxially; pinnules densely arranged, narrowly triangular, upper margins lobed; margins of segments with triangular acute teeth on fertile parts and apices; indusia orbicular-reniform; spores with reticulate ornamentation.
Understories of dense forests; 9002500 m. [??add]Anhui, Gansu, Guizhou, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Taiwan, [??add]Xizang, Yunnan, [??add]Zhejiang [N Myanmar].
Adiantum myriosorum is a beautiful plant that is cultivated as an ornamental.
毛叶铁线蕨 mao ye tie xian jue
Adiantum hispidulum Swartz; A. pedatum G. Forster (1786), non Linnaeus (1753).
Plants ca. 40 cm tall. Rhizomes erect, short, covered with purple-black lanceolate scales. Fronds clustered; stipe deep castaneous, polished, ca. 20 cm, thick, ca. 2 mm in diam., densely brownish villous, hairs partly fallen when old; lamina broadly ovate-triangular, ca. 18 Χ 10 cm, 2- or 3-pinnate dichotomously branching, usually middle pinnae longest, linear-lanceolate, ca. 16 cm, 1-imparipinnate; ultimate pinnules ca. 30 pairs, alternate, obliquely spreading, with short stalks; middle pinnules nearly equal in size, orbicular, ca. 8 Χ 45 mm, inner and lower margins straight and entire, bases asymmetrically cuneate, margins with narrow shallow sinuses, outer margins rounded, upper margins rounded-truncate, fertile segments truncate and entire on upper margins, sterile parts undulate and dentate. Lower 1 or 2 pairs of pinnules slightly reduced, flabellate or flabellate-rectangular, upper pinnules same shape as middle pinnules and gradually becoming smaller; terminal pinnules obtriangular, slightly larger than lower lateral ones; all lateral pinnae same shape as middle pinnae and gradually becoming shorter toward bilateral sides. Veins multidichotomously forked, visible on both sides. Fronds after dry papery, dark brown or deep olive-green, sparsely covered with brown pubescence on both surfaces; all costae and stalks castaneous, polished, densely brown pubescent. Sori 412 attached at sinuses on pinnules; indusia dark brown, orbicular, leathery, upper margins deeply depressed or sinuate, pubescent adaxially, entire, persistent. 2n = 360.
E Guangdong, E Taiwan, SE Yunnan [India, Indonesia (Java), Malaysia, Philippines; tropics and subtropical regions: Africa, Asia, New Zealand, Oceania].
扇叶铁线蕨 shan ye tie xian jue
Adiantum amoenum Wallich ex Hooker & Greville; A. fuscum Retzius.
Plants terrestrial, 2045 cm tall. Rhizomes erect, short, with dense, yellowish to brown, polished, linear-lanceolate scales, scale margins entire. Fronds clustered; stipe black-purple, polished, 1030 cm, base covered with same scales as rhizome, upward glabrous, one longitudinal grooved on upper side and inside shortly stiffly brown hairy; lamina flabellate, 1025 cm, 2- or 3- asymmetrically dichotomously branching, usually middle pinnae longer, bilateral pinnae same shape as middle pinnae but slightly shorter, up to 5 cm; middle pinnae green or dark-brown, linear-lanceolate, 615 Χ 1.52 cm, subleathery, glabrous on both surfaces, 1-pinnate; pinnules 815 pairs per pinna, alternate, horizontally spreading, stalked, stalk 12 mm; pinnules below middle nearly equal in size, dimidiate-semiorbicular (fertile ones), or obliquely square (sterile ones), 615 Χ 510 mm, inner and lower margins straight and entire, base broadly cuneate or flabellately cuneate, outer and upper margins subrounded or rounded-truncate, fertile parts shallowly sinuate, segments entire, sterile parts denticulate; distal pinnules same shape as lower pinnules but slightly smaller; terminal pinnules obovate or flabellate, equal in size or slightly larger than lower lateral pinnules. Veins multidichotomously forked and reaching margins, visible on both sides of lamina; costae and stalks purple-black, polished and densely covered with brown-red, short hairs on adaxial sides, glabrous on abaxial sides. Sori 25 per pinnule, horizontal, at upper and outer margins of segments; indusia dark brown, semiorbicular or oblong, leathery, upper margins flat and straight, entire, glabrous, persistent. Spores with indistinct granulate ornamentation. 2n = 116.
Open acidic red and yellow soils; 1001100 m. [??add]Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Hunan, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Taiwan, Yunnan, Zhejiang [India, Japan including Ryukyus, Malaysia, Malesia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Vietnam].
The whole plant is used as traditional medicine to clear away heat and toxic materials, relax tendons and activate blood, promote diuresis, dissipate phlegm, subsidence of swelling, stop bleeding and alleviate pain from trauma; it is applied to burns and scalds, bites from poisonous snakes, centipedes, and scabies; it is also used to treat inflammatory diseases of pigs with redness of skin and rinder pests of ruminants.
The plant is an indicator of acidity, growing at pH 4.55 on red and yellow soils.
圆柄铁线蕨 yuan bing tie jue
Plants 1540 cm tall. Rhizomes erect, short, densely covered with dark brown narrowly lanceolate scales. Fronds clustered; stipe brown when young, black when old, polished, 420 cm, less than 1.5 mm in diam., grooved on upper sides and inside brown stiffly hairy, when old becoming cylindric with most hairs fallen; lamina broadly ovate, 1020 Χ 610 cm, 24 pinnately branching; pinnae 24 pairs, alternate, obliquely spreading, stalked; basal pair of pinnae largest, 49 Χ 24 cm, narrowly ovate, stalk 11.2 cm, 2- or 3-paripinnate; 2 pairs of lateral pinnules, alternate, oblique upward, stalk ca. 3 mm; ultimate pinnules of fertile fronds 59 Χ 811 mm, subrounded, inner and lower margins straight and entire, bases broadly cuneate or truncate, outer and upper margins rounded or subrounded, entire or few sinuate; ultimate pinnules of sterile fronds slightly larger, oblong, 912 Χ 1116 mm, bases broadly cuneate, entire, outer and upper margins undulate-lobed, denticulate along margins; upper pinnules same shape as lower ultimate ones and slightly smaller; terminal pinnules flabellate, slightly larger than lower lateral ultimate ones, pinnules with 24 mm stalks, articulate at ends and after dry easily fallen from joints but stalks persistent; from second pair of pinnae upward same shape as basal pair of pinnae and gradually becoming smaller. Veins multidichotomously forked, reaching margins, visible on both sides. Fronds after dry subleathery, dark brown-yellow[??where], dark brown-green[??where], sometimes slightly glaucous abaxially, glabrous on both surfaces; rachis and costae and stalks dark brown and polished, densely covered with brown-yellow pubescence adaxially, glabrous abaxially. Sori 46 (rarely 1 or 2) on ultimate pinnules, horizontally attached at upper margins; indusia dark brown, reniform, broadly linear, or oblong, leathery, upper margins truncate or slightly depressed, entire, persistent.
On acidic soil of forest understories by roadsides or forest margins; 100800 m. Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Yunnan [Vietnam].
长尾铁线蕨 chang wei tie xian j
Adiantum affine Willdenow; A. diaphanum var. affine (Willdenow) Alderwerelt; A. heteromorphum Colenso ex Field, nom. nud.; A. setulosum J. Smith.
Plants epipetric, 1530 cm tall. Rhizomes erect, short, covered with dark brown, lanceolate scales, scale margins denticulate. Fronds clustered; stipe castaneous, polished, 420 cm, slender, base sparsely covered with same scales as rhizome, glabrous upward, grooved on upper side; lamina dark brown or deep olive-green, deltate-lanceolate, 611 Χ 23 cm, membranous, glabrous adaxially, abaxially slightly glaucous and with loose, appressed, brown, unicellular needlelike setae, 1-pinnate or bipinnate at base; pinnae shortly stalked, dimidiate, rhombic or quadrangular, equal in size, 11.8 Χ 0.50.9 cm; pinnules 816 pairs per pinna, alternate, obliquely spreading or subhorizontally spreading on lower ones, base asymmetric, broadly cuneate, margin with rounded sinuses, outer margin obtuse or truncate, upper margin truncate or rounded, stalked, stalk less 2 mm; distal pinnules same shape as lower pinnules but slightly smaller; terminal pinnules rhombic, slightly larger than lower ones. Veins flabellately forked, reaching margins, visible on both sides of lamina; rachises, costae, and stalks castaneous, polished, glabrous. Sori except those attached along veinlet but also on mesophyll between veinlets, 210 per pinnule; indusia dark brown, orbicular, leathery, upper margins deeply sinuate and with unicellular brown needlelike setae, persistent. Sori with indistinct granulate ornamentation. 2n = 116, 232.
Wet soils or on rocks near stream margins within forests; 6002200 m. Fujian, Guangdong, Hainan, [??add]Jiangxi, Taiwan [Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam; Australia, New Zealand, Polynesia].
冯氏铁线蕨 feng shi tie xian jue
Plants ca. 10 cm tall. Rhizomes decumbent, slender, densely covered with dark brown narrowly lanceolate scales. Fronds approximate; stipe deeply castaneous, polished, 36 cm, slender as silk, smooth above base; lamina narrowly ovate-lanceolate, 35 Χ 12 cm, apices obtuse, 2-pinnate; pinnae 4 or 5 pairs, horizontally or obliquely spreading, pinnae below middle nearly equal in size, narrowly ovate, 11.5 Χ ca. 0.8 cm, imparipinnate; lateral ultimate pinnulets alternate, oblique upward, obtriangular, ca. 4 mm, apices of fertile ultimate pinnules truncate or with few sharp serrations on bilateral androscopic corners; apices of sterile ultimate pinnules rounded, with parted and sharp serrations on upper margins, bilateral margins straight and entire, bases symmetrically cuneate, with slender short stalks, upper pinnules same shape as lower pinnules and becoming slightly smaller upward, terminal pinnules same shape and size as lower pinnules. Veins multidichotomously forked and reaching margins, visible on both sides. Fronds after dry herbaceous, herb-green, glabrous on both surfaces; rachises, costae, and stalks same color as stipes, polished. Sori one per pinnule and horizontally attached at upper margins of ultimate pinnules; indusia glaucous or dark brown, elongate, nearly same length as width of upper margins of ultimate pinnules, membranous, upper margins truncate or slightly undulate, persistent. Perispores with indistinct granulate ornamentation.
* Wet rocks of forest understories; ca. 3400 m. N Yunnan (Lijiang, Yulong Shan).
毛足铁线蕨 mao zu tie xian jue
Plants 2560 cm tall. Rhizomes creeping, slender, black lanceolate scaly and brown multicellular villous. Fronds approximate; stipe black-purple and polished, 1020 cm, bases densely similarly scaly and villous, but easily fallen when rubbed when dry and leaving rough feeling on surface, upward smooth; lamina broadly ovate, 2040 Χ 1925 cm, apices acuminate, bases rounded-cuneate, 3- or 4-pinnate; pinnae 57 pairs, alternate, obliquely spreading, stalk ca. 1 cm; basal 1 or 2 pairs of pinnae largest, triangular, 818 Χ 49 cm, 2- or 3-pinnate; pinnules of 1-pinnate 5 or 6 pairs, alternate, obliquely spreading, stalked; basal pinnules larger, oblong, 35 Χ 23.5 cm, apices obtuse, upward gradually becoming smaller; ultimate pinnules 24, alternate, flabellate, 59 Χ 411 mm, apices rounded and with dense short and broad triangular serrations and with cartilaginous, usually crooked, long awn points at tips, bilateral margins entire, bases symmetrically cuneate; stalk castaneous-red, ca. 1 mm, hairlike in diam.; terminal pinnules same size as or slightly larger than lower pinnules. Veins multidichotomously forked, reaching tips of serration, visible on both sides. Fronds when dry thinly herbaceous, herb-green, glabrous on both surfaces; rachis and costae same color as stipes, polished, glabrous. Sori 14, attached at pinnules; indusia dark brown, orbicular or orbicular-reniform, membranous, upper margins deeply sinuate, entire, persistent. Perispores with indistinct granulate ornamentation.
* Slightly acidic, damp soil in forest understories, in rock crevices at forest edges; 14002500 m. Guizhou, Sichuan, Yunnan.
1a. Apical serrations of ultimate pinnules with cartilaginous, usually crooked long awns at tips 21a. var. bonatianum
1b. Apical serrations of ultimate pinnules acute and without cartilaginous awn at tip 21b. var. subaristatum
毛足铁线蕨 (原变种) mao zu tie xian jue (yuan bian zhong)
Apical serration of ultimate pinnulets with cartilaginous, usually crooked long awn points at tips.
* Slightly acidic damp soil in forest understories, in rock crevices at forest edges; 14002500 m. Guizhou, Sichuan, Yunnan.
??vernacular name
Adiantum pseudobonatianum Ching, nom. nud.
Apical serrations of ultimate pinnulets acute, without cartilaginous awn point at tips.
* On rocks of forest understories; ca. 1400 m. Sichuan.
白背铁线蕨 bai bei tie xian jue
Adiantum aristatum H. Christ; A. davidii var. aristatum (H. Christ) C. Christensen; A. davidii var. latedeltoideum (H. Christ) Ching; A. davidii var. longispinum Ching; A. monochlamys Eaton var. latedeltoideum H. Christ; A. prattii Baker.
Plants epipetric, 2030 cm tall; rhizomes long creeping, slender, covered with deep dark brown, polished, lanceolate scales, scale margins entire. Fronds spaced apart; stipe deep castaneous, 1021 cm, with same scales as rhizome, upward glabrous and polished; lamina abaxially gray-green, adaxially herb-green or glaucous, triangular-ovate, 1015 Χ 610 cm, hard herbaceous, glabrous on both surfaces, apex acuminate, 3-pinnate; pinnae 35 pairs, obliquely spreading, stalked, stalk 14 mm; pair of proximal pinnae largest, narrowly triangular, 57 Χ 34 cm, 2-pinnate; pinnules 4 or 5 pairs per pinna, obliquely spreading, with short stalks, upward gradually becoming smaller, apex obtuse; ultimate pinnules 14 pairs, approximate and slightly overlapping, flabellate, 47 Χ 47 mm, apex rounded, with short and broad dense serrations and with cartilaginous short awn point at tips, bilateral margins entire, base cuneate, with slender castaneous short stalks; terminal pinnules same shape as lower lateral ones; from second pair of pinnae upward same shape as basal one and gradually becoming smaller. Veins multidichotomously forked, reaching apices of serrations, visible on both sides; rachises, costae, and stalks same color as stipes, polished, with brown multicellular, articulate hairs at base of pinnae and pinnules. Sori 1 (rarely 2) per pinnule, horizontally attached at apical sinuses of pinnules; indusia dark brown, reniform or orbicular-reniform, papery, upper margins shallowly depressed, entire, persistent. Perispores with thick granulate ornamentation. 2n = 240*.
* On rocks by streamsides; 11003400 m. Gansu, Guizhou, Hebei, Henan, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan.
The type specimen was collected in Shaanxi.
细叶铁线蕨 xi ye tie jue
Adiantum venustum var. wuliangense Ching & Y. X. Lin.
Plants terrestrial, 2550 cm tall. Rhizomes decumbent, thick, with dense deep brown ovate-lanceolate scales, scale margins entire. Fronds remote; stipe castaneous-brown, 1020 cm, base covered with same scales as rhizome, upward glabrous; lamina herb-green or brown-green, broadly ovate, 1025 Χ 512 cm, herbaceous, glabrous on both surfaces, apex acuminate and 1-pinnate, 3-pinnate on lower parts; pinnae ca. 6 pairs, alternate, obliquely spreading, stalked, stalk 27 mm; pair of proximal pinnae largest, 513 Χ 47 cm, ovate-elliptic, 2-pinnate; 1-pinnate pinnules 4 or 5 pairs, alternate, oblique upward, stalked; distal pinnules flabellate, 710 Χ 710 mm, base shortly cuneate, with short stalk, apex rounded and denticulate. Veins multidichotomously forked, reaching teeth at pinnule margin, visible on both sides of lamina; rachises, costae, and stalks same color as stipes, polished, glabrous, ± zigzag. Sori 1 or 2 (rarely 3) per pinnule, attached at round sinus; indusia brownish, orbicular, membranous, upper margin deep sinuslike, entire, persistent. 2n = 120.
In rock crevices, mountain slopes; 20002900 m. Xizang, Yunnan (Jingdong, Wuliangshan) [Bhutan, India, N Myanmar].
西藏铁线蕨 xi zang tie xian jue
Plants ca. 30 cm tall. Rhizomes creeping, ca. 1.5 mm in diam., densely covered with brown lanceolate scales. Fronds remote, erect; stipe castaneous-brown, polished, ca. 15 cm, above base smooth, terete, grooved on upper sides; lamina ovate, 1016 Χ 57 cm, 3-pinnate, 1-pinnate on upper parts; pinnules 4 or 5 pairs, alternate, oblique upward, with short stalks; lower pinnules narrowly ovate, ca. 6 Χ 2.8 cm, 2-pinnate; 1-pinnate pinnules 3 or 4 pairs on lower pinnate apices and with silklike stalks; ultimate pinnules flabellate; fertile ultimate pinnules usually 711(13) Χ 713 mm, base cuneate, with silklike short stalks, apices rounded, oblique to irregularly shaped, with triangular rounded sharp teeth; terminal ultimate pinnules same shape as and slightly larger than lower lateral ones, shortly stalked. Veins multidichotomously forked, obscure. Fronds after dry thinly herbaceous, herb-greenish adaxially, abaxially glaucous, glabrous on both surfaces; rachises, costae, and stalks same color as stipes, polished, zigzag, smooth. Sori 1 or 2(or 4) on ultimate pinnule; indusia brownish, orbicular-reniform or narrowly reniform, membranous, with a large depression on upper margins, entire, persistent.
* Forest understories by roadsides; 28003200 m. SE Xizang (Jilong).
长盖铁线蕨 chang gai tie jue
Adiantum fimbriatum var. shensiense (Ching) Ching & Y. X. Lin; A. smithianum (C. Christensen) Ching; A. smithianum (C. Christensen) Ching var. shensiense Ching; A. venustum D. Don var. smithanum C. Christensen.
Plants terrestrial or epipetric, (10)2535 cm tall. Rhizomes creeping, slender, densely covered with brown, polished, ovate-lanceolate scales. Fronds spaced; stipe reddish castaneous, 1020 cm, base covered with same scales as rhizome, glabrous upward and polished; lamina greenish or gray-green, ovate-triangular, 725 Χ 1020 cm, apex obtuse, 3- or 4-pinnate, thinly herbaceous, glabrous on both surfaces; pinnae 37 pairs, oblique upward, stalked, stalk ca. 1 cm; pair of proximal pinnae largest, ovate-triangular, 610 Χ 48 cm, apex obtuse, 2-pinnate; upper pinnae 1-pinnate; distal pinnules 35 pairs, stalks short, obovate or flabellate, 67 Χ 67 mm or longer than wide, apex rounded or ± oblique, with dense small triangular long and sharp teeth and without awn at tip, bilateral sides entire, base cuneate, symmetric or slightly oblique, upward pinnules same shape as basal ones but gradually becoming smaller. Veins flabellately forked and ending in teeth at pinnule margins, visible on both sides of lamina; rachises, costae, and stalks same color as stipes, polished, glabrous, zigzag. Sori (1 or)2 or 3(5) per pinnule; indusia brownish, rectangular, reniform, orbicular, or orbicular-reniform, membranous, upper margins more often flat and straight, less often slightly depressed, entire, persistent. Perispores with indistinct granulate ornamentation.
* On rocks or in rock crevices of forest understories by streamsides; 27003600 m. Gansu, Hebei, [??add]Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan.
圆齿铁线蕨 yuan chi tie xian jue
Adiantum venustum D. Don var. breviserratum Ching, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 6. 335. 1957.
Plants 2030 m tall. Rhizomes creeping, densely covered with brown lanceolate scales. Fronds tufted or approximate; stipe castaneous-brown, polished, 1020 cm, bases with same scales as rhizome, upward smooth; lamina subovate-triangular, ca. 15 Χ 10 cm, apices acuminate, 3- or 4-pinnate; pinnae 5 or 6 pairs, alternate, oblique upward, stalks 26 mm; lowest pair of pinnae largest, ovate or subovate-triangular, 79 Χ 2.54 cm, apices obtuse, stalks short; 1-pinnate pinnae 4 or 5 pairs, alternate, oblique upward; basal pair of pinnae largest, 2.53.5 Χ ca. 1.5 cm, broadly ovate, apices obtuse; lower pinnae simple bipinnate; upper pinnae imparipinnate; ultimate pinnules obovate or narrowly flabellate, 36 Χ 36 mm, upper margins rounded and crenate, bilateral sides entire, bases cuneate, stalks silklike; pinnae upward gradually becoming smaller, terminal pinnules smallest and same shape as lower pinnules. Veins multidichotomously forked, reaching teeth of upper margins of pinnules, visible on both sides. Fronds after dry thinly herbaceous, grayish green, glabrous on both surfaces. One sori per ultimate pinnule, horizontally attached at upper margins of ultimate pinnules; indusia brownish, suborbicular or rectangular, membranous, upper margins flat and straight, entire, persistent.
* On limestone; 24003500 m. Xizang, N Yunnan.
The type specimen was collected in Yunnan (Zhenkang).
单盖铁线蕨 dan gai tie xian jue
Adiantum aethiopicum Linnaeus; A. monochlamys var. plurisorum H. Christ, nom. nud.; ??A. monochlamys var. simozawai Masamune; A. veitchii Hance; A. venustum D. Don var. monochlamys (Eaton) Luerssen.
Plants ?terrestrial, 1555 cm tall. Rhizomes long-creeping, densely covered with castaneous-black, polished, narrowly lanceolate scales, scale margins entire. Fronds approximate or spaced; stipe castaneous-black or castaneous and polished, 1528 cm, base covered with same scales as rhizome, glabrous upward; lamina grayish green abaxially, narrowly ovate-triangular, 1530 Χ 310 cm, herbaceous, glabrous on both surfaces, base broadly cuneate, apex acuminate and 1-pinnate, lower ones 3-pinnate; pinnae 68 pairs, oblique upward, stalked, stalk 11.5 cm; pair of proximal pinnae largest, triangular-ovate, 48 Χ 34.5 cm; 1-pinnate pinnae 2 or 3 pairs per frond, oblique upward, every pair with 35 pairs of ultimate pinnules; ultimate pinnules narrowly obtriangular, 610 Χ 58 mm, base cuneate, apex rounded-truncate; margins of sterile ultimate pinnules with triangular sharp teeth, fertile ones deeply depressed at middle, both sides with triangular sharp teeth, bilateral margins straight and entire, stalked; stalk castaneous, short, slender; terminal pinnules with same shape and size as lateral pinnules, but stalks longer; upward every pair of pinnae same shape as proximal pinnae pair and becoming slightly smaller. Veins multidichotomously forked, reaching ends of teeth of pinnules, visible on both sides of lamina; rachises, costae, and stalks same color as stipes, polished, zigzag, glabrous. Sori 1 (or 2) per pinnule, horizontally attached at sinuses on upper margins of pinnules; indusia dark red-brown, reniform, thinly papery, upper margins deeply sinuate, entire or slightly undulate, persistent. 2n = 116.
Forest understories on mountain lands; ca. 800 m. Guizhou, Sichuan, Taiwan, Zhejiang [Japan, S Korea].
肾盖铁线蕨 shen gai tie xian jue
Adiantum roborowskii Maximowicz var. robustum H. Christ.
Plants epipetric, 1635 cm, tall. Rhizomes shortly creeping or ascending, densely covered with castaneous-black, polished, narrowly lanceolate scales, scale margins entire. Fronds clustered or approximate; stipe castaneous and polished, 522 cm, base densely covered with same scales as rhizome, upward glabrous; lamina yellow-green or dark brown-green, lanceolate-triangular, 422 Χ 48 cm, papery, glabrous on both surfaces, apex acuminate, base cuneate, 3-pinnate; pinnae 47 pairs, alternate, stalked, stalk 0.51 cm; proximal pinnae slightly larger, 2.54 Χ ca. 2 cm, narrowly ovate, 2-pinnate below middle and with 2 pairs of pinnules, alternate, oblique upward; ultimate pinnules narrowly flabellate or obovate, 514 Χ 410 mm, base narrowly cuneate, upper margin of sterile pinnules rounded and undulate-crenate; upper margin of fertile pinnules with wide and deep sinus at middle, bilateral sides undulate-crenate, outer and inner margins entire, bilateral sides symmetric, stalked, stalk slender and ca. l mm, distal pinnae 1-pinnate and with 3 or 4 pairs of pinnules, alternate, oblique upward, same shape and size as distal pinnule; pinnae from second pair upward same shape as proximal pair and becoming slightly smaller. Veins multidichotomously forked, reaching margins, visible on both surfaces of lamina; costae and stalks same color as stipes, polished, glabrous. Sori 1 (rarely 2) per pinnule; indusia dark brown, orbicular or orbicular-reniform, subleathery, upper margins deeply sinuate, entire, persistent. Perispores with granulate ornamentation.
* On rocks or in rock crevices of forest understories by streamsides; 6003500 m. Guizhou, [??add]Henan, Hubei, Sichuan, Taiwan, Xizang.
陇南铁线蕨 long nan tie xian jue
Plants epipetric, 925 (rarely above 35) cm tall. Rhizomes erect or ascending, short, densely covered with dark brown lanceolate scales, scale margins entire. Fronds clustered or approximate; stipe reddish castaneous, polished, 420 cm, terete, base covered with same scales as rhizome, glabrous upward; lamina gray-green, lanceolate or ovate-elliptic, 518 Χ 26 cm, papery or nearly hard papery, glabrous on both surfaces, apex acuminate, 3-pinnate on lower part, 1-pinnate on upper part; pinnae 36 pairs, alternate, oblique upward, stalked, stalk 36 mm; pair of proximal pinnae slightly larger, 1.53 Χ 1.21.4 cm, ovate-triangular, apex obtuse, base rounded-cuneate, 2-pinnate; pinnules 1 or 2 pairs per pinna, alternate, oblique upward; ultimate pinnules subtriangular or narrowly flabellate, base broadly cuneate, 59 Χ 47 mm, upper margins of sterile pinnules rounded and with slightly undulate projection; upper margins of fertile pinnules entire and with 1 or 2 deep sinuses at middle, with slender reddish castaneous short stalks; second pair of pinnae of same shape but smaller; distal pinnae 1-pinnate and same shape and size as lower terminal pinnule. Veins multidichotomously forked, nearly reaching margins, visible on both sides of lamina; rachises, costae, and stalks reddish castaneous, polished, glabrous. Sori 1 or 2 per pinnule, attached at deep sinuses of upper margins; indusia dark brown, orbicular or orbicular-reniform, subleathery, upper margins deeply sinuate, entire, persistent.
* In rock crevices of wet forest understories, on cliffs or rocks by ditchsides; 10002000 m. Gansu, Guizhou, Hubei, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Sichuan, [??add]Xizang.
The type specimen was collected in Qinghai.
1a. Ultimate pinnules nearly orbicular-flabellate, bases rounded-cuneate ............... 29c. var. faberi
1b. Ultimate pinnules triangular, obovate, or broadly ovate.
2a. Stipes 420 cm, lamina 518 cm, ultimate pinnules narrowly flabellate 29a. var. roborowskii
2b. Stipes 28 cm, lamina 27 cm, ultimate pinnules triangular or broadly ovate 29b. var. taiwanianum
陇南铁线厥 (原变种) long nan tie xian jue (yuan bian zhong)
Stipe 420 cm; lamina 518 cm, ultimate pinnules narrowly flabellate.
* In rock crevices of wet forest understories, on cliffs or rocks by ditchsides; 10002000 m. Gansu, Guizhou, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Sichuan.
台湾高山铁线蕨 tai wan gao shan tie jue
Adiantum taiwanianum Tagawa, Acta Phytotax. Geobot. 4: 93. 1935.
Stipe 28 cm; lamina 27 cm, ultimate pinnules triangular or broadly ovate.
* C and S Taiwan.
峨眉铁线蕨 e mei tie jue
Basionym: Adiantum faberi Baker, J. Bot. 26: 225. 1888; A. roborowskii f. faberi (Baker) Y. X. Lin.
Ultimate pinnules nearly orbicular-flabellate, bases rounded-cuneate.
* On damp rocks; 12003000 m. Hubei, Sichuan.
月芽铁线蕨 yue ya tie xian jue
Adiantum delavayi H. Christ; A. edentulum H. Christ; A. edentulum f. muticum (Ching) Y. X. Lin; A. edentulum f. refractum (H. Christ) Y. X. Lin; A. muticum Ching; A. submarginatum H. Christ; A. veneris Linnaeus var. sinuatum H. Christ.
Plants epipetric, 1530(50) cm tall. Rhizomes erect or ascending, short, densely covered with brown lanceolate scales, scale margins entire. Fronds clustered; stipe castaneous-black, polished, 517 cm, base covered with same scales as rhizome, upward smooth; lamina gray-green abaxially, ovate or ovate-lanceolate, 1015 Χ 4.512 cm, papery, glabrous on both surfaces, apex acute, base cuneate, usually 2- or 3-pinnate; pinnae 46 pairs, alternate, oblique upward, stalked, pair of proximal pinnae largest, 2.512 Χ 23 cm, narrowly ovate or ovate- narrowly triangular, 1- or 2-pinnate; pinnules 4 or 5 pairs per pinna, alternate, oblique upward; ultimate pinnules asymmetric, flabellate, 515 Χ 814 mm, alternate, oblique upward, upper margin undulate-rounded, 14-lobate or semilobate (parted in middle), sterile segments entire or slightly undulate, fertile segments with shallow broad sinuses on upper margins, bilateral sides entire, bases shortly cuneate, stalked, stalk 0.54 mm, slender as silk; from second pair upward to all pinnae same shape and becoming smaller; terminal pinnules same shape as lower lateral ones but slightly larger. Veins multidichotomously forked, reaching margins, visible on both sides of lamina; rachises, costae, and stalks same color as stipes, polished, smooth, zigzag. Sori 24(or 5) per pinnule, horizontally attached at broad sinuses on upper margins of segments; indusia brown, narrowly or orbicular-reniform, membranous, upper margins flat and straight or depressed, entire, persistent. Perispores with reticulate ornamentation.
* On rocks of forest understories, wet rocks covered with bryophytes in ditches, shaded and wet cliffs, ditchsides of mixed forest understories; 10003600 m. Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan, Shaanxi, Sichuan, [??add]Xizang, Yunnan, [??add]Zhejiang.
铁线蕨 tie xian jue
Adiantum capillus-veneris f. dissectum (M. Martens & Galeotti) Ching; A. michelii H. Christ; A. submarginatum H. Christ [??also in synonymy above]; A. tenerum Swartz var. dissectum M. Martens & Galeotti.
Plants terrestrial or epipetric, 1040 cm tall. Rhizomes creeping, slender, densely covered with brown lanceolate scales, scale margins entire. Fronds remote or approximate; stipe castaneous-black, polished, 320 cm, slender, base covered with same scales as rhizome, upward glabrous; lamina herb-green or dark brown-green, ovate-triangular, 625 Χ 816 cm, thinly herbaceous, apex acute, base cuneate, below middle pinnae mostly 2-pinnate, above middle pinnae 1-pinnate, glabrous on both surfaces; pinnae 35 pairs, alternate, oblique upward, stalked, stalk up to 1.5 cm, color of stalk passing into lamina base; pair of proximal pinnae larger, 39 Χ 2.54 cm, narrowly ovate, apex obtuse, 1-(rarely 2-)pinnate, lateral ultimate pinnules 24 pairs, alternate, oblique upward, nearly equal in size or basal pair slightly larger, 1.22 Χ 115 cm, upper margin rounded, 24-lobed or parted into twiglike segments; sterile segments obtuse and with margins broadly triangular serrations or erose teeth at apex; apex of fertile segments truncate, straight or slightly depressed, entire or with erose teeth on both sides, ?bilateral sides entire, base cuneate, stalked; stalk castaneous-black, slender, 12 mm; terminal pinnules flabellate, base narrowly cuneate, usually larger than lower lateral pinnules, stalked, stalk up to 1 cm; pinnae from second pair upward same shape as basal pair of pinnae and becoming smaller. Veins multidichotomously forked, reaching margins, visible on both sides of lamina; rachises, costae, and stalks same color as stipes, slightly zigzag. Sori 310 per pinnule, horizontally attached at upper margins of pinnules; indusium yellowish green, brown when old, narrowly reniform or orbicular-reniform, membranous, upper margins flat and straight, entire, persistent. Perispores with thick granulate ornamentation.
On limestone near running streams, bottom of limestone caves, cliffs of dripping water; 1002800 m. [??add]Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hebei, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, [??add]Jiangxi, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Sichuan, Taiwan, [??add]Xizang, Yunnan, [??add]Zhejiang [Japan, Vietnam; widely distributed in temperate and tropical regions in Africa, America, Asia, Europe, Oceania].
Adiantum capillus-veneris is an indicator of calcitic soil.
Plants with ultimate pinnules shallowly divided on upper margins have been treated as f. capillus-veneris, while plants with ultimate pinnules deeply divided into several lobes have been treated as f. dissectum (M. Martens & Galeotti) Ching.
The whole plant is used in traditional medicine to clear away heat, promote diuresis for stanguria with turbid urine, lymph tuberculosis, and to stop coughs.