23. Lepisorus (J. Smith) Ching, Bull. Fan Mem. Inst. Biol. Bot. 4: 47. 1933. [Draft]

瓦韦属  wa wei shu

Lin You-xin (林尤興); Michael G. Gilbert.

Pleopeltis[Drynaria] Sect. Lepisorus J. Smith, Bot. Mag. 72. Comp. 13. 1846; Belvisia Mirbel; Drymotaenium Makino; Hymenolepis Kaulfuss (1824), not Cassini (1817); Platygyria Ching & S. K. Wu.

Ferns epiphytic or epilithic. Rhizomes creeping, sometimes densely covered with roots, densely scaly; scales blackish brown, opaque or clathrately transparent, ovate, rounded, or broadly lanceolate to subulate-lanceolate, entire to deeply serrate. Fronds simple, remote or closely spaced, monomorphic; stipe usually short, base sparsely scaly, upper part smooth, mostly straw colored, less often dark brown; lamina mostly lanceolate, less often narrowly lanceolate to linear or auriculate to pedately lobed, margin entire or undulate, usually revolute when dried, mostly leathery or papery, less often herbaceous when dried, both surfaces glabrous or abaxially sparsely scaly. Midrib obvious, lateral veins often obscure, veinlets reticulate, areolae with simple or forked included veinlets, sometimes with hydathodes at ends. Sori large, rounded or elliptic, converged or linear, in one row on each side of midrib, covered with paraphyses when young; paraphyses peltate, entire or denticulate, less often stellate or scalelike, often brown at center, pale at margin; luminae large, transparent. Sporangia subpyriform, long stalked, annulus longitudinal, consisting of 14 thickened cells; less often sporangia subrounded, annulus cells less obviously thickened. Spores ellipsoid, without perispore, surface mostly rugose or undulate, less often smooth, tuberculate or foveolate. [x=??] 2n = 39, 46, 50, 52, 70, 74, 94, 95, 100, 148, 150.

About 70 species; mainly in E Asia, a few in Africa; 59 species (40 endemic) in China.

The type species is Lepisorus nudus (W. J. Hooker) Ching (Pleopeltis nuda W. J. Hooker, described from Nepal), not, as sometimes indicated, L. thunbergianus (Kaulfuss) Ching, which was not included in J. Smith’s original treatment of Pleopeltis Sect. Lepisorus.

Lepisorus is complex both cytologically and morphologically with many taxa still inadequately known. Because of this, we have treated species conservatively. Though relatively recently described, the genus has become well established, especially as molecular studies have shown that the similarity to the genus Pleiopeltis is probably the result of morphological convergence and that the two genera belong to phylogenetically distinct lines. These same studies (e.g., Li Wang et al., Molec. Phylog. Evol. 54: 211–225. 2010) demonstrated that two older, but much smaller, genera, Belvisia and Drymotaenium, nest within Lepisorus, but the investigators chose to ignore priority and transfer the species involved to Lepisorus, and Lepisorus has since been formally proposed for conservation against these and a number of other potentially competing earlier names.

1a...... Lamina clearly differentiated into a much wider basal vegetative portion and a slender apical fertile portion almost completely covered by a pair of linear coenosori (Belvisia).

2a...... Lamina narrowly lanceolate, upper parts gradually attenuate into narrow fertile part, herbaceous when dry       57. L. mucronatus

2b..... Lamina ovate-lanceolate or elliptic, upper parts abruptly contracted into narrow fertile part, papery or leathery when dry.

3a...... Fertile parts 4–7 mm wide, sori usually distinctly separated from midrib, lamina margin undulate  58. L. henryi

3b..... Fertile parts up to 4 mm wide, sori touching midrib, lamina margin straight ...................  59. L. annamense

1b..... Lamina mostly with little or no differentiation between vegetative and fertile portions, sometimes sori restricted to apical portion but this only slightly narrower and sori separate.

4a...... Mostly summer green plants; frond usually herbaceous or papery; rhizomes without or with few sclerenchyma strands; lateral veins anastomosing to form one line of regular areolae on each side of main vein and with included forked veinlets; rhizome scales uniformly clathrate, luminae large and transparent (Sect. Hymenophyton Ching).

5a...... Sporangia with broad, pale annulus (Platygyria).

6a.      Lamina hastate, palmatifid, or auriculate at base, sometimes only some fronds enlarged at base  56. L. waltonii

6b..... Lamina lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, never enlarged at base.

7a...... Lateral veins visible; spores shallowly rugate .............................................................  52. L. clathratus

7b..... Lateral veins hardly visible; spores smooth with sparse globules ...............................  50. L. sinuatus

5b..... Sporangia with normal narrow, dark annulus.

8a.      Rhizome scales lanceolate, 2.5–4+ × 0.7–1.2 mm, 2.5–6 × as long as wide; areoles oblong or irregularly elongated, longer than broad.

9a...... Lamina membranous or thinly herbaceous, narrowly lanceolate, apex caudate, light brown when dried; veins distinct; rhizome scales dense, tough, black, iridescent, > 3.5 mm long, < 0.9 mm wide  52. L. clathratus

9b..... Lamina thickly papery, lanceolate, yellow or light green when dried, veins indistinct; rhizome scales brittle, brown, 3–3.5 × 0.9–1.2 mm ..............................................................................................................  51. L. crassipes

8b..... Rhizome scales broadly lanceolate, 1.8–2.5 × 0.8–1.5 mm, less than 2.5 as long as wide; areoles polygonal, ± as long as broad.

10a.... Lamina 5–14 × 0.4–1.2 cm; rhizome scales < 2 × 1 mm; paraphyses margins with long, thick, curved spines           55. L. albertii

10b... Lamina more than 14 × 1–2 cm; rhizome scales 2–2.5 × 1.1–1.5 mm; paraphyses not as above.

11a.... Lamina papery or membranous, brown, pale brown or pale green when dried; stipe 3–10 cm; paraphyses 4–5 mm, 2–3 × as long as wide
......................................................................................................................................  54. L. thaipaiensis

11b... Lamina thickly papery to thinly leathery, abaxially light green, adaxially dark green or light green when dried; stipe 2–5 cm; paraphyses 0.8–1 mm, ca. as long as wide ...................................  53. L. likiangensis

4b..... Mostly evergreen plant; fronds usually leathery; rhizomes with more sclerenchyma; lateral veins anastomosing into unequal sized areolae with simple included veinlets; center of rhizome scales usually dark brown and opaque, luminae normally smaller (sect. Lepisorus s. lat.).

12a.... Sori linear or merged into linear coenosori when mature.

13a.... Sori forming a pair continuous linear coenosori each within a longitudinal groove alongside midrib; lamina linear (Drymotaenium) ..................................................................................................................  9. L. miyoshianus

13b... Sori superficial, not included within any grooves, often discontinuous toward base of lamina; lamina lanceolate (sect. Pseudovittaria).

14a.... Scales with all luminae large and transparent, margin serrate; lamina widest ca. 1/3 of the way up.

15a.... Stipe ca. 2 cm; sori closest to margin ...............................................................................  4. L. sinensis

15b... Stipe more than 4 cm; sori closest to midrib ................................................................  5. L. confluens

14b... Scales with central luminae opaque and only 1 or 2 rows of marginal luminae transparent, margin serrate or entire; lamina widest at middle.

16a.... Sori joined into linear coenosori, slightly discontinuous only along lower part of lamina; scale margins serrate .........................................................................................................................................  7. L. vittarioides

16b... Sori elliptic, connected into linear coenosori only when fully mature, but intermittent; scale margins entire or denticulate ..................................................................................................................  8. L. subconfluens

12b... Sori rounded or elliptic, separate.

17a.... Rhizome scale luminae all opaque; paraphyses stellate.

18a.... Laminae loriform, 60–70 cm, widest at middle ...............................................................  1. L. medogensis

18b... Laminae lanceolate, less than 30 cm, widest ca. 1/3 of length from base.

19a.... Laminae 2.5–5 cm wide; sori rounded ............................................................................  2. L. sordidus

19b... Laminae ca. 1 cm wide; sori elliptic ...........................................................................  3. L. luchunensis

17b... Rhizome scale luminae transparent at least toward margin, paraphysis rounded or lanceolate, entire or serrate.

20a.... Rhizome scales opaque except for marginal 1 or 2 rows of transparent cells.

21a.... Rhizomes short and decumbent; fronds ± clustered.

22a.... Plants ca. 15 cm tall; lamina 10–15 mm wide, abruptly narrowed and decurrent at lower 1/3 part into 1–1.5 cm stipe; spore surface foveolate
.......................................................................................................................................  10. L. tosaensis

22b... Plants ca. 5 cm tall; lamina ca. 5 mm wide, spatulate, sessile; spore surface reticulate  11. L. paohuashanensis

21b... Rhizomes long and creeping; fronds remote.

23a.... Lamina linear, 3–5 mm wide.

24a.... Lamina margins strongly revolute when dry; moniliform due to protruding sori  12. L. lewisii

24b... Lamina margins only slightly revolute when dry, normally without protruding sori.

25a.... Paraphyses with large square luminae, transparent ..............................  13. L. lineariformis

25b... Paraphyses with small irregular luminae, opaque or slightly transparent.

26a.... Lamina margin flat; base of stipe with 4 vascular bundles; spore surface foveolate  14. L. angustus

26b... Lamina margin revolute; base of stipe with 6 vascular bundles; spore surface reticulate     15. L. heterolepis

23b... Lamina lanceolate, (5–)10–35 mm wide.

27a.... Lamina abaxially scaly; rhizome scale margins serrate.

28a.... Laminal widest at middle, softly leathery; sori large, closer to main vein and close to each other           16. L. oligolepidus

28b... Laminal widest ca. 1/3 way along, abruptly narrowed above middle, apex long caudate, stiffly leathery; sori small, equidistant between main vein and margin and distant from each other
..................................................................................................................  17. L. suboligolepidus

27b... Lamina abaxially with few or no scales; rhizome scale margins entire or denticulate.

29a.... Plants up to 35 cm tall; stipe base with 3 vascular bundles arranged in a triangle; spores deeply and sparsely foveolate ..............................................................................................  18. L. tibeticus

29b... Plants up to not more than 18 cm tall; stipe base with 4 vascular bundles arranged in a rectangle; spores with large and shallowly holereticulate[??okay] ornamentations ...  19. L. thunbergianus

20b... Rhizome scales transparent except sometimes for narrow central zone of opaque cells.

30a.... Rhizome scales with central zone of opaque cells.

31a.... Lamina broadly lanceolate, 1–3.5 cm wide, widest ca. 1/3 from base; stipe sometimes chestnut brown           20. L. obscure-venulosus

31b... Lamina narrowly lanceolate, 0.4–1.1(–1.3) cm wide, widest at middle; stipe straw colored.

32a.... Lamina hardly[?stiffly] leathery, apex long caudate; stipe ca. 1/10 as long as lamina; lamina 3–7 cm          21. L. nyalamensis

32b... Laminae softly leathery, apex mucronate; stipe ca. 1/4 as long as lamina; lamina 9–23 cm  22. L. contortus

30b... Rhizome scales with cells uniformly transparent.

33a.... Rhizome scales with apex obtuse, mostly lost on older rhizomes, luminae square.

34a.... Sori borne at or near margin; scales thin, 2–3 mm .................................  23. L. macrosphaerus

34b... Sori borne between main vein and margin or slightly nearer main vein; scales thick, less than 2 mm.

35a.... Stipe 1–4 cm; sori closely spaced, generally extending to below middle of lamina; lamina margins undulate when dry, abaxial surface with scattered dark scales .............  24. L. marginatus

35b... Stipe 5–15 cm; sori more distant, generally not extending beyond middle of lamina; lamina margins not undulate when dry, abaxial surface with very few or no scales.

36a.... Lamina 15–30 × 1.5–4 cm; scales 1.2–2 × 1–1.3 mm; paraphyses brown, 0.4–0.55 mm in diam.             25. L. asterolepis

36b... Lamina 25–40 × 1–2 cm; scales ca. 1 mm long and wide; paraphyses pale brown, 0.5–0.7 mm in diam. ......................................................................................................................  36. L. kawakamii

33b... Rhizome scales with apex long acute to acuminate, mostly persistent on rhizome, luminae fine and dense, or clathrate.

37a.... Rhizome scale luminae isodiametric, margins serrate.

38a.... Lamina linear, ca. 3 mm wide, margins revolute, fertile part moniliform when sori mature  26. L. eilophyllus

38b... Laminae loriform or lanceolate, 5–18 mm wide, margin revolute or not, lamina moniliform or not.

39a.... Lamina loriform; sori ± close to margin.

40a.... Rhizomes decumbent; lamina 8–18 mm wide at middle
.....................................................................................................................  28. L. loriformis

40b... Rhizomes creeping; lamina ca. 5 mm wide at middle
.......................................................................................................................  29. L. stenistus

39b... Lamina lanceolate; sori borne between main vein and margin.

41a.... Lamina 1.8–5 cm wide.

42a.... Plants 25–45 cm tall; lamina apex long caudate
............................................................................................................  27. L. xiphiopteris

42b... Plants 15–25 cm tall; lamina apex shortly acuminate
.............................................................................................................  33. L. sublinearis

41b... Lamina less than 2 cm wide.

43a.... Laminae ca. 1 cm wide only, main vein often reddish
..........................................................................................................  30. L. pseudonudus

43b... Lamina 1.4–2.4 cm wide; main vein not reddish.

44a.... Rhizomes densely dark brown villous .......................................  31. L. tricholepis

44b... Rhizomes not villous ....................................................................  32. L. lancifolius

37b... Rhizome scale luminae mostly rectangular, margins entire or slightly denticulate.

45a.... Lamina broadly ovate, stipe longer.

46a.... Lamina (3.5–)4–6 cm wide, widest at or below middle, apex long acuminate; rhizome scales ovate, adpressed, margin entire ........................................................................  34. L. kuchenensis

46b... Lamina 1.5–4 cm wide, widest at base, apex obtuse; rhizome scales narrowly lanceolate, ± spreading, margin denticulate
.......................................................................................................................  35. L. megasorus

45b... Lamina oblong-lanceolate or lanceolate; stipes short.

47a.... Rhizome scales narrowly lanceolate.

48a.... Lamina oblong-lanceolate, base slightly attenuate, subsessile ........  37. L. virescens

48b... Lamina lanceolate, base attenuate and long decurrent, stipe 4.5–6 cm.

49a.... Paraphyses dark brown in center, nearly colorless at margin  38. L. scolopendrius

49b... Paraphyses uniformly nearly colorless ................................  39. L. paleparaphysus

47b... Rhizome scales broadly lanceolate.

50a.... Rhizome scales distinctly 2-colored; lamina herbaceous.

51a.... Rhizome scale margins pale brown, scales tightly adpressed to rhizome; lamina broadly lanceolate .................................................................................................  40. L. bicolor

51b... Rhizome scale margins nearly white to yellow-brown, scales spreading; lamina narrowly lanceolate.

52a.... Sori borne closer to main vein ..............................................  41. L. morrisonensis

52b... Sori borne closer to margins ........................................................  42. L. subsessilis

50b... Rhizome scales uniformly colored; lamina leathery.

53a.... Lamina loriform; rhizome scales not persistent on old rhizomes; sori close to margin.

54a.... Rhizomes suberect; scale uniformly dark brown, margins with short teeth  43. L. cespitosus

54b... Rhizomes creeping; scale margins pale brown, entire.

55a.... Lamina 15–30 × 1–2.2 cm; base of stipe with 5 vascular bundles, arranged in a semicircle
.............................................................................................................  44. L. longus

55b... Lamina ca. 60 × 2.5–3.2 cm; base of stipe with 3 vascular bundles, arranged in a triangle  45. L. affinis

53b... Lamina lanceolate; rhizome scales persistent; sori closer to midrib.

56a.... Cell walls of rhizome scales uniformly thickened, luminae small.

57a.... Paraphysis stellate, dark brown, opaque .............................  46. L. ussuriensis

57b... Paraphysis subrounded, central luminae large and transparent  47. L. pseudoussuriensis

56b... Cell wall of rhizome scales not thickened or central luminae large and thickened.

58a.... Rhizome scales with walls of central cells brown and thickened, marginal cell walls pale yellow .................................................................................................  48. L. nudus

58b... Rhizome scales with mid cell wall thickened, pale brown or brownish black with iridescent polish.

59a.... Lamina widest at middle ...........................................................  49. L. elegans

59b... Lamina widest below middle to lower 1/3 ............................  6. L. iridescens

1. Lepisorus medogensis Ching & Y. X. Lin, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 22: 401. 1984.

墨脱瓦韦  mo tuo wa wei

Plants ca. 60 cm. Rhizomes creeping, densely scaly; scales black, lanceolate; luminae opaque. Fronds closely spaced; stipe straw colored, 8–13 cm; lamina grayish green on both surfaces when dried, subbroadly ribbon shaped, ca. 50 × 50 cm, nearly papery, base attenuate, decurrent, margin undulate, apex attenuate, long-caudate; costa raised on both sides, glabrous; veinlets slightly visible. Sori elliptic or rounded, located between costa and margins, covered with paraphysis when young; paraphysis stellate.

* On tree trunks; ca. 1800 m. Xizang (Motuo).

Lepisorus medogensis is similar to L. loriformis Wallich ex Ching, but the scales are opaque and the sori are between the costa and the margins, not close to the margins.

2. Lepisorus sordidus (C. Christensen) Ching, Bull. Fan Mem. Inst. Biol. Bot. 4(3): 78. 1933.

黑鳞瓦韦  hei lin wa wei

Polypodium sordidum C. Christensen, Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 26: 320. 1931; Lepisorus sordidus f. rostrata Ching.

Plants 20–40 cm tall. Rhizomes creeping, densely scaly; scales narrowly lanceolate; luminae opaque. Fronds closely spaced; stipe straw colored, 3–12 cm, thick, ca. 2 mm. in diam.; lamina grayish green, ovate-lanceolate, widest 1/3 from base, both ends rapidly narrowed, 2–5 × 20–35 cm, nearly softly leathery, smooth on both surfaces after dry, base decurrent, apex long caudate; costa raised on both sides, veinlets obscure. Sori rounded, ca. 4 mm. in diam. on narrow distal part of lamina, located between costa and margins, covered with paraphysis when young. Paraphysis dark brown, rounded peltate; luminae partly transparent, luminal walls thickened, with long and strong spines around sides.

* On trunks of broad-leaved trees beside steams; 1200–1400 m. Sichuan, Yunnan.

3. Lepisorus luchunensis Y. X. Lin, Fl. Reipubl. Popularis Sin. 6(2): 346. 2000.

绿春瓦韦  lu chun wa wei

Plants ca. 25 cm tall. Rhizomes creeping, ca. 2 mm in diam. densely scaly at tip; scales black, narrowly lanceolate; luminae fine and dense, opaque, thick in texture, margins with long spines, apex long acuminate. Fronds closely spaced; stipe straw colored, ca. 2 cm; lamina grayish brown when dried, narrowly lanceolate, 15–25 × 0.4–0.8(–1) cm, softly leathery, smooth on both surfaces. base attenuate, decurrent, apex long caudate; costa raised, veinlets obscure. Sori elliptic, on narrow distal part of lamina, located between costa and margins, covered with paraphysis when young; paraphysis nearly scalelike; luminal walls thickened, with long and strong spines around sides.

· On tree trunks of evergreen broad-leaved forest understories; 1500–1600 m. Yunnan (Luchun).

4. Lepisorus sinensis (H. Christ) Ching, Bull. Fan Mem. Inst. Biol. Bot. 4(3): 63. 1933.

中华瓦韦  zhong hua wa wei

Neurodium sinense H. Christ, Bull. Herb. Boissier 6: 880. 1898; Lemmaphyllum sinense (H. Christ) C. Christensen; Paltonium sinense (H. Christ) C. Christensen; Pleopeltis sinensis (H. Christ) Copeland; Polypodium neurodioides C. Christensen.

Plants 5–25 cm tall. Rhizomes creeping, densely scaly; scales brown, lanceolate. Fronds remote; stipe straw colored, 1.5–3 cm; lamina pale grayish or greenish, widest 1/3 from base, distal 1/3 abruptly attenuate, fertile, 15–30 × 1–2 cm, papery or thickly papery, glabrous on both surfaces when dry, base attenuate, decurrent, apex long-caudate; costa raised, veinlets obscure or slightly visible. Sori linear, on distal 1/3 of lamina, slightly closer to and parallel with margin.

On tree trunks or rocks of evergreen broad-leaved forest understories; 1200–3600 m. Yunnan [Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand].

The type specimen is from Yunnan (Menzi).

5. Lepisorus confluens W. M. Chu, Acta Bot. Yunnan., Suppl. 5: 55. 1992.

汇生瓦韦  hui sheng wa wei

Plants 15–25 cm tall. Rhizomes long and creeping, 2–4 mm in diam., densely scaly; scales brown, lanceolate; luminae rectangular, margins serrate, apex acuminate, Fronds remote; stipe straw colored or brown, 1.5–2.5 cm; lamina grayish green or pale green when dried, narrowly lanceolate, widest nearly 1/3–1/2 from base, distal up to 1/3 abruptly attenuate, fertile, 15–25 × 1.5–1.8 cm, thinly leathery, glabrous on both surfaces when dried, base cuneate, decurrent, apex long caudate; costa raised on both sides, veinlets obscure. Sori shortly linear at beginning, slightly closer to costa, confluent into linear interrupted coenosorus when mature, covered with paraphysis when young. Paraphysis rounded, scalelike, brown at margins; luminae large,

· On tree trunks under evergreen broad-leaved forests; 2300–2600 m. Yunnan.

6. Lepisorus iridescens Ching & Y. X. Lin, Fl. Reipubl. Popularis Sin. 6(2): 82. 2000.

彩虹瓦韦  cai hon a wei

Plants 10–20 cm tall. Rhizomes creeping, densely scaly; scales deep brown, iridescent, lanceolate; luminae subsquare, walls slightly thickened, transparent, base ovate, attenuate upward, margins denticulate, apex long acuminate. Fronds ± closely spaced; stipe dark straw colored, 0.3–5 cm; lamina brown when dried on both surfaces, lanceolate, widest nearly 1/3–1/2 from base, up to distal 1/3 abruptly attenuate, fertile, leathery, smooth, base cuneate, decurrent, margin flatly straight or slightly revolute, sterile part of apex long caudate; costa raised on both sides, veinlets obscure. Sori elliptic, on distal 1/3 of lamina, located between costa and margins, confluent when mature, covered with paraphysis when young; paraphysis stellate, deep brown, with thick spines along margins.

· On tree trunks of evergreen broad-leaved forest understories; 2200–2500 m. Yunnan (Shuangbai).

7. Lepisorus vittarioides Ching, Bull. Fan Mem. Inst. Biol. Bot. 4(3): 64. 1933.

线囊瓦韦  xian nang wa wei

Plants ca. 15 cm tall. Rhizomes slender and creeping, densely scaly; scales lanceolate, Fronds remote; stipe dark straw colored, ca. 3 cm; lamina pale brown, linear-lanceolate, widest at middle, 15–23 × 0.2–0.6 cm, papery, glabrous on both surfaces when dry, base attenuate, decurrent, apex attenuate, long caudate; costa raised on both sides, veinlets obscure. Sori linear, continuous from middle nearly to apex, parallel with costa and margins.

* Yunnan (Mengzi).

8. Lepisorus subconfluens Ching, Bull. Fan Mem. Inst. Biol. 4(3): 85. 1933.

连珠瓦韦  lian zhu wa wei

Plants 15–27 cm tall. Rhizomes long and creeping, densely scaly; scales chestnut to black and with opaque zone in center, lanceolate, broad, marginal 1 or 2 rows of luminae transparent, margins serrate. Fronds remote; stipe straw colored, 3–5 cm; lamina yellowish green when dried, linear, leathery, margin slightly revolute; costa raised on both sides, veinlets obscure. Sori elliptic or rounded, ± contiguous into a pair of linear coenosori when mature. Paraphysis subrounded, center brown, margins nearly colorless and entire.

* On tree trunks or rocks of mixed forest understories; 2600–3600 m. Yunnan.

9. Lepisorus miyoshianus (Makino) Fraser-Jenkins & Subh. Chandra, Taxon. Revis. Indian Subcontinental Pteridophytes 37. 2008.

丝带蕨  si dai jue

Taenitis miyoshiana Makino, Bot. Mag. (Tokyo) 12: 26. 1898; Drymotaenium miyoshianum (Makino) Makino; D. nakaii Hayata.

Plants epiphytic. Rhizomes short and decumbent, densely scaly; scales uniformly blackish, triangular-lanceolate, luminae small, margins denticulate. Fronds clustered, normally pendent; stipe articulate, very short; lamina narrowly linear, “vittaria”-like, 15–60 × 0.2–0.4 cm, firm, leathery, glabrous, usually strongly revolute. Veins obscure, anastomosing, 1 or 2 rows of areolae on both sides of broad costa and with a few included veinlets. Sori linear, continuous, located within a pair of longitudinal grooves on each side of and close to midrib, covered with peltate paraphyses. Annulus of 14(–16) thickened cells. Spores bilateral, elliptic, transparent and smooth.

* On tree trunks in forest understories; 600–2600 m. Guangdong, Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Taiwan, Xizang, Yunnan, Zhejiang [India (Arunachal Pradesh[??SE Xizang or India]), Japan].

10. Lepisorus tosaensis (Makino) H. Itô, J. Jap. Bot. 11: 93. 1935.

阔叶瓦韦  kuo ye wa wei

Polypodium tosaense Makino, Bot. Mag. (Tokyo) 27: 127. 1913; Lepisorus infraplanicostalus (Hayata) Ching; Polypodium hoozanense Hayata; P. infraplanicostale Hayata; P. lineare Thunberg [??not Burm. f.]var. caudatum Makino; P. morii Hayata.

Plants 15–30 cm tall. Rhizomes short and decumbent, densely scaly; scales deep brown, lanceolate, most luminae opaque, marginal 1 or 2 rows of cells brownish, transparent. Fronds clustered; stipe straw colored, 1–5 cm; lamina brownish or grayish green when dried, lanceolate, widest at middle, both ends attenuate, (10–)13–20 × 1–2 cm, leathery, both surfaces glabrous, base cuneate, decurrent, apex acuminate; costa raised on both sides, veinlets obscure. Sori rounded, on distal half of lamina, located between costa and margins, paraphysis rounded, brownish. Spore surface foveolate.

On tree trunks or rocks of forest understories, in limestone crevices; 600–1700 m. Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hunan, Jiangxi, Sichuan, ?Taiwan, Xizang, Yunnan, Zhejiang [Japan].

The type specimen is from Japan.

11. Lepisorus paohuashanensis Ching, Fl. Jiangsu 1: 467. 1977.

百华山瓦韦  bai hua shan wa wei

Plants 5–14 cm tall. Rhizomes short and ascending, densely scaly; scales lanceolate, central part deep brown, opaque, marginal 1 or 2 rows of cells transparent. Fronds clustered, nearly sessile; lamina yellowish or grayish green, subspatulate or oblanceolate, 3–7 × 0.4–0.6 cm, papery after dry, base attenuate, decurrent, apex acute or obtuse; costa raised on both sides, veinlets obscure. Sori rounded, normally on distal half of lamina, located between costa and margins, Spore surface reticulate.

· On tree trunks or in rock crevices of forest understories; 100–1600 m. Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Xizang, Zhejiang.

The type specimen is from Zhejiang (Bai Hua Shan). Qi (Masters Dissertation, 2009) included Lepisorus paohuashanensis as a synonym of the preceding species, L. tosaensis.

12. Lepisorus lewisii (Baker) Ching, Bull. Fan Mem. Inst. Biol. Bot. 4: 65. 1933.

庐山瓦韦  lu shan wa wei

Polypodium lewisii Baker, J. Bot. 13: 201. 1875.

Plants 9–15 cm tall. Rhizomes slender and creeping, densely scaly; scales lanceolate, center deep brown, opaque, marginal 1 or 2 rows of cells brownish, transparent, margins denticulate. Fronds closely spaced; stipe straw colored, 0.5–2 cm or subsessile; lamina yellowish or brownish gray when dried, linear, 6–15 × 0.2–0.4 cm, leathery, base slightly attenuate and decurrent, margin strongly revolute, wrapped around sori, thus frond distinctly moniliform, apex obtuse; costa raised on both sides, veinlets obscure. Sori elliptic, on distal half of lamina, located between costa and margins, deeply immersed in mesophyll, covered with paraphysis when young; paraphysis brown; luminae larger, transparent, entire.

· On soil or rock crevices beside streams of forest understories; 300–1100 m. Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hunan, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Zhejiang.

The type specimen is from Jiangxi (Lushan).

13. Lepisorus lineariformis Ching & S. K. Wu, Fl. Xizang. 1: 309. 1983.

线叶瓦韦  xian ye wa wei

Plants 10–20 cm tall. Rhizomes long and creeping, densely scaly; scales dark brown, lanceolate, with central narrow opaque black belt, marginal 2 or 3 rows of cells subrectagular, transparent, margins denticulate. Fronds remote; stipe straw colored, 0.5–1.5 cm; lamina greenish when dried, linear, 10–20 × 0.3–0.5 cm, base attenuate, decurrent, margin flat or only slightly revolute, apex acuminate; costa raised on both sides, veinlets obscure. Sori rounded, on distal half of lamina, located between costa and margins, covered with paraphysis when young. Paraphysis rounded, brown, transparent; luminae subsquare.

* On tree trunks or rocks in evergreen broad-leaved forests; 800–2200 m. Xizang (Motuo).

14. Lepisorus angustus Ching, Bull. Fan Mem. Inst. Biol. Bot. 4: 86. 1933.

狭叶瓦韦  xia ye wa wei

Lepisorus nanchuanensis Ching; L. niger Ching; L. pseudoangustus Ching; L. thunbergianus Ching var. angustus (Ching) Sa. Kurata; Polypodium lineare [??Burm. f. or Thunberg] f. caudatoattenuatum Takeda.

Plants 12–25 cm tall. Rhizomes long and creeping, ca. 1.8 mm in diam., densely scaly; scales brown with opaque center, lanceolate, marginal 1 or 2 rows of cells elongate, transparent. Fronds closely spaced; stipe straw colored, 1.5–3 cm, base with 4 vascular bundles; lamina greenish or yellowish green to grayish green when dried, narrowly lanceolate, 10–22 × 0.3–0.5 cm, leathery, base attenuate, long decurrent, apex long acuminate; costa raised on both sides, veinlets obscure. Sori elliptic, rounded or shortly club-shaped, on distal half of lamina, located between costa and margins, covered with paraphysis when young; paraphysis deep brown, subrounded. Spore surface foveolate.

· On tree trunks or rocks of forest understories; 900–3500 m. Anhui, Chongqing, Gansu, Guangxi, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan, S. Zhejiang.

The type specimen is from Sichuan.

15. Lepisorus heterolepis (Rosenstock) Ching, Bull. Fan Mem. Inst. Biol. Bot. 4: 86. 1933.

异叶瓦韦  yi ye wa wei

Polypodium lineare [??Burm. f. or Thunberg] var. heterolepis Rosenstock, Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 12: 247. 1913; Lepisorus monilisorus (Hayata) Tagawa; Pleopeltis heterolepis (Rosenstock) Tagawa & K. Iwatsuki; Polypodium lineare var. monilisorum Hayata; P. loriforme Wallich ex Mettenius var. heterolepis (Rosenstock) C. Christensen.

Plants 15–30 cm tall. Rhizomes creeping, densely scaly; scales brown with opaque center, lanceolate, marginal 1 or 2 rows of cells paler, transparent, margins thick and dentate. Fronds closely spaced; stipe straw colored, ca. 1 cm, base with 6 vascular bundles; lamina grayish green when dried, linear-lanceolate, widest at middle, ca. 30 × 0.5 cm. leathery, attenuate and long decurrent nearly to base, margin distinctly revolute and [undulately projecting on upper half?], apex shortly caudate; costa raised on both sides, veinlets obscure. Sori subelliptic, on distal part of lamina, located between costa and margins, covered with paraphysis when young; paraphysis brown, rounded, entire. Spores monolete, surface reticulate.

* On tree trunks or rocks of forest understories; ca. 2300 m. ?Taiwan, Yunnan.

16. Lepisorus oligolepidus (Baker) Ching, Bull. Fan Mem. Inst. Biol. Bot. 4: 80. 1933.

鳞瓦韦  lin wa wei

Polypodium oligolepidum Baker, Gard. Chron., n.s. 14: 494. 1880; Lepisorus ellipticus Ching; Pleopeltis oligolepida (Baker) Á. Löve & D. Löve; Polypodium lineare [??Burm. f. or Thunberg] var. oligolepidum (Baker) H. Christ; P. trabeculatum Copeland.

Plants 10–20 cm tall. Rhizomes creeping, densely scaly; scales brown and opaque at center, lanceolate, marginal 1 or 2 rows of cells brownish, transparent, margins serrate. Fronds ± closely spaced; stipe straw colored, 2–3 cm, robust; lamina yellowish green, lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, widest 1/3–1/2 from base, 8–18 × 1.5–3.5 cm, softly leathery when dry, abaxially covered with deep brown, transparent lanceolate scales, adaxially glabrous, base cuneate, decurrent, apex acuminate; costa robust, raised on both sides, veinlets obscure. Sori rounded or elliptic, up to 0.5 mm in diam. on distal half of lamina, sterile at ends, contiguous, located between costa and margins, covered with paraphysis when young; paraphysis deep brown, rounded.

Shaded places on slopes or tree trunks or rock crevices of forest understories; 200–2300 m. Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Henan, Hunan, Jiangxi, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan, Zhejiang [Japan].

17. Lepisorus suboligolepidus Ching, Bull. Fan Mem. Inst. Biol. Bot. 4: 77. 1933.

拟鳞瓦韦  ni lin wa wei

Pleopeltis suboligolepidus (Ching ) Tagawa & K. Iwatsuki.

Plants 15–28 cm tall. Rhizomes creeping, densely scaly; scales brown with opaque center, lanceolate, marginal 1 or 2 rows of cells transparent, margins serrate. Fronds closely spaced; stipe straw colored, 1.5–3 cm; lamina grayish yellow when dried, lanceolate, normally widest 1/3 from base, distal 1/3 abruptly attenuate, 15–28 × 1.5–2.5, nearly hard leathery, nearly glabrous on surfaces, or with sparse scales occasionally on abaxial surfaces, base attenuate, decurrent, apex long acuminate; costa robust, raised on both sides, veinlets faintly visible. Sori rounded, smaller, usually along distal part of lamina, located between costa and margins, covered with paraphysis when young; paraphysis brown, nearly multi-angular in shape.

* On tree trunks or rocks on slopes of forest understories; 1000–3200 m. Hubei, Sichuan, Taiwan, Yunnan.

The type specimen is from Yunnan.

18. Lepisorus tibeticus Ching & S. K. Wu, Fl. Xizang. 1: 311. 1983.

西藏瓦韦  xi zang wa wei

Plants 15–35 cm tall. Rhizomes creeping, densely scaly; scales brown and opaque at center, lanceolate, marginal 1 or 2 rows of cells paler, transparent, margins serrate. Fronds closely spaced; stipe straw colored, 1–5 cm, base with 3 vascular bundles arranged in a triangle; lamina grayish green to grayish yellow, linear-lanceolate to lanceolate, 12–32 × 0.5–1.8 cm, thinly leathery, abaxially normally covered with dark soil, base attenuate, long decurrent, apex long caudate; costa raised on both sides, veinlets obscure. Sori rounded or elliptic, on distal half of lamina, located between costa and margins, covered with paraphysis when young; paraphysis brown, subrounded, entire. Spore surface deeply and sparsely foveolate.

· On tree trunks or in rock crevices of dense forest understories; 1900–3700 m. Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan.

The type specimen is from Xizang.

19. Lepisorus thunbergianus (Kaulfuss) Ching, Bull. Fan Mem. Inst, Biol. Bot, 4: 88. 1933.

瓦韦  wa wei

Pleopeltis thunbergianus Kaulfuss, Wesen Farrenkr.: 113. 1827; Polypodium lineare Thunberg, Syst. Veg., ed. 14: 934. 1784, not N. F. Burman (1768); Drynaria subspathulata Hooker; Lepisorus calcifer Ching & Z. Y. Liu; L. myriosorus Ching; L. simulans Ching & Z. Y. Liu; L. sinicus Ching & Z. Y. Liu; L. thunbergianus var. subspathulatus (Hooker) Ching; L. undulatus Ching & Z. Y. Liu; Pleopeltis linearis (Brackenridge) T. Moore var. thunbergianum (Kaulfuss) Takeda [??not in Tropicos]; Polypodium lineare var. subspathulatum (Hooker) Takeda.

Plants 8–20 cm tall. Rhizomes creeping, densely scaly; scales brown, mostly opaque, lanceolate, marginal 1 or 2 rows of cells transparent, margins serrate. Fronds remote; stipe straw colored, 1–3 cm, base with 4 vascular bundles arranged in a rectangle; lamina yellowish green or greenish to brown, linear-lanceolate or narrowly lanceolate, widest at middle, 5–20 × 0.5–1.3 cm, papery, base attenuate, decurrent, apex acuminate; costa raised on both sides, veinlets obscure. Sori rounded or elliptic, nearly confluent after maturity, covered with paraphysis when young; paraphysis brown, rounded. Spore surface with large and shallowly holereticulate[??okay] ornamentations. 2n = 50, 51, 75, 76, 100, 101, 102, 103 (diploid, triploid, tetraploid, with irregular meiosis in some triploid plants).

On tree trunks or rocks on slopes of forest understories; 400–3800 m. Anhui, Fujian, Gansu, Guizhou, Hebei, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Taiwan, Xizang, Yunnan, Zhejiang [Japan, Korea, Philippines].

The type specimen is from Japan.

20. Lepisorus obscure-venulosus (Hayata) Ching, Bull. Fan Mem. Inst. Biol. Bot. 4: 76. 1933.

粤瓦韦  yue wa wei

Polypodium obscure-venulosum Hayata, Icon. Pl. Formosan. 5: 322. 1915, [“obscure-venulosus”]; P. suprapunctatum Ching.

Plants 10–20(–30) cm tall. Rhizomes creeping, densely scaly; scales broadly lanceolate; with deep brown and opaque narrow belts in mid parts, most other luminae transparent, margin entire. Fronds normally remote; stipe usually chestnut brown or straw colored, 1–5(–7) cm; lamina greenish or yellowish green when dried, lanceolate or broadly lanceolate, normally widest 1/3 from base, 12–25(–30) × 1–3.5 cm, thinly leathery after dry, sparsely adnate with scales along abaxial sides of main veins, base cuneate, decurrent, apex long caudate; costa raised on both sides, veinlets obscure; Sori rounded, up to 5 mm in diam., subcontracted after maturity, covered with paraphysis when young; paraphysis brown at middle, rounded; luminae large.

On tree trunks or rocks of forest understories; 400–1700 m. Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hunan, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Taiwan, Yunnan, Zhejiang [Japan].

21. Lepisorus nyalamensis Ching & S. K. Wu, Fl. Xizang. 1: 311. 1983.

聂拉木瓦韦  nie la mu wa wei

Plants 12–25 cm tall. Rhizomes creeping, densely scaly; scales ovate-lanceolate, with narrow central opaque belt. Fronds remote; stipe straw colored, 1–1.5 cm; lamina yellowish, narrowly elliptic-lanceolate, widest at middle, 1–22 × 0.7–1 cm, thinly leathery, base attenuate, decurrent, apex long caudate; costa raised on both sides, veinlets obscure. Sori elliptic, on distal half of lamina, located between costa and margins, covered with paraphysis when young; paraphysis brown, rounded, transparent.

On tree trunks or wet rocks in moss of open forest understories; 200–2700 m. Xizang [ India].

The type specimen is from Xizang (Zhangmu).

22. Lepisorus contortus (H. Christ) Ching, Bull. Fan. Mem. Inst. Biol. Bot. 4: 90. 1933.

扭瓦韦  niu wa wei

Polypodium lineare [??author] var. contortum H. Christ, Nuovo Giorn. Bot. Ital., n.s., 4(1): 98. 1897; Lepisorus crassirhizoma Ching & Z. Y. Liu; L. jinfoshanensis Ching & Z. Y. Liu; Pleopeltis contorta (H. Christ) Alston & Bonner; Polypodium contortum (H. Christ) H. Christ; P. lineare f. contortum (H. Christ) Takeda.

Plants 10–25 cm tall. Rhizomes long and creeping, densely scaly; scales ovate-lanceolate, with narrow, opaque, deep brown band at middle, polished, margins serrate. Fronds ± closely spaced; stipe normally straw colored, less often brown, (1–)2–5(–6) cm; lamina abaxially grayish yellow-green, adaxially greenish, linear-lanceolate to lanceolate, widest at middle, 9–23 × 0.4–1.1(–1.3) cm, softly thinly leathery, base cuneate, decurrent, when dried recurved, apex shortly acuminate; costa raised on both sides, veinlets obscure. Sori rounded or slightly ovate, on distal half of lamina, located between costa and margins, covered with paraphysis when young; paraphysis brown at center, rounded.

· On tree trunks or rocks of forest understories; 700–3000 m. Anhui, Fujian, Gansu, Henan, Hubei, Jiangxi, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, Zhejiang.

The type specimen is from Sichuan (Emei Shan).

23. Lepisorus macrosphaerus (Baker) Ching, Bull. Fan Mem. Inst Biol. Bot. 4: 73. 1933.

大瓦韦  da wa wei

Polypodium macrosphaerum Baker, Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1895: 55. 1895; Lepisorus macrosphaerus f. maximus (Ching) Y. X. Lin; L. macrosphaerus var. maximus Ching; L. macrosphaerus f. minimus (Ching) Y. X. Lin; L. macrosphaerus var. minimus Ching; Pleopeltis macrosphaera (Baker) Panigrahi & Patnaik; Polypodium intramarginale Baker ex H. Christ.

Plants usually 20–40 cm tall. Rhizomes creeping, densely scaly; scales brown, ovate; central luminae subrectangular, luminal walls thickened and dark colored, marginal luminae submulti-angular, colorish[??colored], apex obtuse, easily fallen when old. Fronds closely spaced; stipe mostly straw colored, normally 4–15 cm; lamina abaxially gray-green or brownish, adaxially yellowish green or brown, lanceolate or narrowly lanceolate, (7–)15–35 × (0.7–)1.5–5 cm, thickly leathery, sparsely covered with less[?small] scales. base cuneate, decurrent, margin entire or slightly undulate, apex shortly acuminate; costa raised on both sides, veinlets normally obscure. Sori rounded or elliptic, much raised on abaxial surface of lamina, depressed on adaxial surface of lamina, closer to margin; paraphysis brown, rounded, entire.

· On tree trunks or rocks of forest understories; 900–3400 m. Guizhou, Hubei, Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan.

The type specimen is from Yunnan (Menzi).

24. Lepisorus marginatus Ching, Fl. Tsinling. 2: 233. 1974 [??without type].

有边瓦韦  you bian wa wei

Plants 18–25 cm tall. Rhizomes creeping, brown, ca. 2.4 mm in diam., densely scaly and softly brown hairy; scales deep brown, subovate; luminae fine and dense, bases with usually adherent soft hairs and hairs easily fallen when old. Fronds closely spaced or remote; stipe straw colored, 2–7(–10) cm, smooth; lamina yellowish green on both surfaces when dried, lanceolate, widest at middle, 15–25 × 2–3(–4) cm, abaxially ± with small adnate brown ovate scales, adaxially glabrous, base attenuate, decurrent, margin narrowly callose, ± revolute and undulate when dried, apex acuminate; costa raised on both sides, veinlets obscure. Sori rounded or elliptic, located between costa and margins, much raised on abaxial surface, depressed on adaxial surface, covered with paraphysis when young; paraphysis brown, rounded.

· On tree trunks or rocks of forest understories. Gansu, Hebei, Henan, Hubei, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Sichuan.

The type specimen is from Sichuan.

25. Lepisorus asterolepis (Baker) Ching, Fl. Jiangsu 1: 74. 1977 [without basionym ref.].

黄瓦韦  huang wa wei

Polypodium asterolepis Baker, J. Bot. 26: 230. 1888; Lepisorus longipes Ching & Z. Y. Liu; L. macrosphaerus (Baker) Ching var. asterolepis (Baker) Ching; P. excavatum Bory ex Willdenow var. asterolepis (Baker) C. Christensen; P. macrosphaerum Baker var. asterolepis (Baker) C. Christensen

Plants 12–28 cm tall. Rhizomes long and creeping, brown, densely scaly; scales brown, lanceolate; luminae fine and dense, transparent, base ovate, easily fallen from rhizome when old. Fronds remote or closely spaced; stipe straw colored, 3–7 cm; lamina normally yellow or yellowish when dried on both surfaces, broadly lanceolate, widest 1/3 from base, 10–25 × 1.2–3 cm, leathery, smooth, or occasionally with sparse adnate scales, base abruptly attenuate, cuneate and decurrent, margin usually flat or slightly undulate, apex rounded obtuse; costa raised on both sides, veinlets faintly visible. Sori rounded or elliptic, on distal half of lamina, located between costa and margins, raised abaxially and sunken adaxially, contracted when mature, covered with paraphysis when young; paraphysis brown, transparent, rounded.

On tree trunks or rocks of forest understories; 1000–3500 m. Anhui, Fujian, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan, Zhejiang [S India, Japan, Nepal].

The type specimen is from Shaanxi (Huxian).

26. Lepisorus eilophyllus (Diels) Ching, Bull. Fan Mem. Inst. Biol. Bot. 4: 65. 1933.

高山瓦韦  gao shan wa wei

Polypodium eilophyllum Diels, Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 29: 204. 1900; Lepisorus neolewisii K. H. Shing; L. pseudolewisii K. H. Shing; P. involutum Baker (1889), not Desvaux (1811), nor Mettenius (1856).

Plants 15–37 cm tall. Rhizomes creeping, strong, densely scaly; scales brown, lanceolate, most luminae opaque, cell walls thickened, cell luminae small, base broadly ovate, margins erose, with colorless transparent narrow edges, apex shortly acuminate. Fronds remote or closely spaced; stipe straw colored, subsessile up to 3 cm, sparsely scaly; lamina reddish brown, gray-brown, or greenish on both sides, linear, usually widest 1/3 from base, 12–30 × 1.5–3.5 cm, herbaceous or thinly papery, when dried margins strongly or slightly reflexed into {interstiniform??}, base attenuate, decurrent, apex shortly acuminate; costa raised on both sides, abaxially with sparse adnate scales on main veins and laminae, veinlets slightly visible, Sori rounded or elliptic, slightly closer to costa, covered with paraphysis when young; paraphysis brown, rounded; central luminae large, transparent, entire.

On tree trunks or rocks of forest understories; 1000–3300 m. Gansu, Guizhou, Hubei, Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan [N India, Thailand].

Material of Lepisorus eilophyllus was variously treated by H. Christ as Polypodium lewisii Baker (Nuovo Giorn. Bot. Soc. Ital., n.s. 4: 97. 1897, also by Diels, Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 29: 204. 1901), P. lineare Thunberg (Bull. Soc. Bot. France 52 (Mém. 1): 14. 1905), and P. contortum  (H. Christ) H. Christ (Bot. Gaz. 51: 347. 1911).

27. Lepisorus xiphiopteris (Baker) W. M. Chu ex Y. X. Lin, Fl. Reipubl. Popularis Sin. 6(2): 68. 2000.

云南瓦韦  yun nan wa wei

Polypodium xiphiopteris Baker, Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1906: 13. 1906; Lepisorus yunnanensis Ching.

Plants 25–45 cm tall. Rhizomes decumbent, 3–4 mm in diam., hard, densely scaly; scales brown, lanceolate, clathrate; luminae isodiametric, transparent, margins with thick and long serrations, apex long acuminate, Fronds ± closely spaced; stipe straw colored, 1.5–5 cm; lamina brownish on both surfaces when dried, or abaxially gray-green, adaxially greenish, 10–40 × 1.8–2.2 cm, papery, base cuneate, decurrent, margin undulate, apex long caudate; costa raised on both sides, veinlets obscure. Sori rounded or elliptic, located between costa and margins, covered with paraphysis when young; paraphysis dark brown, substellate or squamous; luminae large and transparent; cell walls thickened, with long thick spines around sides.

· On tree trunks of mixed forest understories, open rocks; 1700–2600 m. Xizang, Yunnan.

Qi (Masters Dissertation, 2009) included this taxon as a synonym of the following species, Lepisorus loriformis.

28. Lepisorus loriformis (Wallich ex Mettenius) Ching, Bull. Fan Mem. Inst. Biol. Bot. 4: 81. 1933.

带叶瓦韦  dai ye wa wei

Polypodium loriforme Wallich ex Mettenius, Abh. Senckenberg. Naturf. Ges. 1: 92. 1857; Drynaria loriformis (Wallich ex Mettenius) J. Smith; Pleopeltis loriformis (Wallich ex Mettenius) T. Moore; Polypodium excavatum Bory ex Willdenow var. loriforme (Wallich ex Mettenius) C. Christensen; P. lineare Thunberg [??or Burm. f.]var. loriforme (Wallich ex Mettenius) Takeda; P. mengtzeanum Baker; P. subimmersum Baker; P. subimmersum f. mengtzeanum (Baker) Takeda.

Plants 20–30 cm tall. Rhizomes decumbent, densely scaly; scales black, ovate-lanceolate; luminae isodiametric, large and transparent, margins with thick serrations. Fronds clustered, subsessile; lamina yellowish on both surfaces when dried, linear, 13–25 × 0.8–1.8 cm, leathery to thickly leathery, when dried margins strongly recurved, apex acuminate; costa raised on both sides, veinlets obscure. Sori subovate, rounded or shortly clavate, close to margin, usually covered by undulate, revolute margin. Paraphysis nearly black, irregularly shaped, protruding along margins,

· On tree trunks or in rock crevices of forest understories; 2000–3000 m. Gansu, Hubei, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan.

The type specimen is from Hubei.

29. Lepisorus steniste (C. B. Clarke) Y. X. Lin, Fl. Reipubl. Popularis Sin. 6(2): 69. 2000.

狭叶瓦韦  xia ye wa wei

Polypodium lineare Thunberg [??or Burm. f.] var. steniste C. B. Clarke, Trans. Linn. Soc. London, Bot. 1: 559. 1880; Lepisorus loriformis (Wallich ex Mettenius) Ching var. steniste (C. B. Clarke) Ching; L. zosterifolius Ching & Y. X. Ling; Pleopeltis linearis (Brackenridge) T. Moore var. steniste (C. B. Clarke) Beddome; Polypodium lineare f. steniste (C. B. Clarke) Takeda; P. loriforme Wallich ex Mettenius f. angustifrons (Takeda) C. Christensen; P. oblongisorum C. Christensen; P. subintegrum Baker; P. subimmersum Baker f. angustifrons Takeda.

Plants 30–50 cm tall. Rhizomes creeping, densely scaly; scales brown, lanceolate, clathrate; luminae isodiametric, transparent, margins thickly serrate. Fronds remote; stipe straw colored, 2–8 cm; lamina yellowish green or brown on both surfaces when dried, ribbon shaped, 20–60 × ca. 0.5 cm, thickly papery or leathery, base attenuate, long decurrent, margin undulate, apex long caudate; costa raised on both sides, veinlets obscure. Sori rounded or elliptic, closer to margin, covered with paraphysis when young; paraphysis stellate, projected outside of margin when mature.

On tree trunks or rocks of forest understories. Xizang, Yunnan [N India, Myanmar, Nepal].

The type specimen is from N India (Sikkim).

30. Lepisorus pseudonudus Ching, Bull. Fan Mem. Inst. Biol. Bot. 4: 83. 1933.

长瓦韦  chang wa wei

Lepisorus bilouensis Ching & Y. X. Lin ex K. H. Shing [without latin descr. or type].

Plants 15–20 cm tall. Rhizomes creeping, densely scaly; scales deep brown, transparent, lanceolate, clathrate, base broadly ovate, margins with thick and long spines, apex long caudate, Fronds ± closely spaced; stipe straw colored or sometimes reddish including on main veins, 2.5–5 cm; lamina abaxially grayish green or brownish when dried, adaxially grayish green, narrowly lanceolate to sublinear, 10–25(–30) × (0.3–)0.5–1.5 cm, base attenuate, long decurrent, margin slightly revolute, apex long caudate; costa raised on both sides, veinlets obscure. Sori rounded or elliptic, located between costa and margins, covered with paraphysis; paraphysis opened palmate, margins with digitate long spines and brown.

· On tree trunks or rocks of forest understories; 2300–4200 m. Gansu, Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan.

31. Lepisorus tricholepis K. H. Shing & Y. X. Lin, Fl. Reipubl. Popularis Sin. 6(2): 346. 2000.

软毛瓦韦  ruan mao wa  wei

Plants ca. 30 cm tall. Rhizomes long and creeping, ca. 4 mm. in diam. densely scaly and brown villous; scales deep brown, triangular-lanceolate; luminae large, transparent, margins with long, thick spines. Fronds ± closely spaced; stipe straw colored, 5–13 cm; lamina yellowish on both surfaces when dried, lanceolate, 17–25 × 1.9–2 cm, softly leathery, base attenuate, decurrent, apex shortly acuminate; costa raised on both sides, veinlets obscure. Sori rounded or elliptic, closer to costa, covered with paraphysis when young; paraphysis much divided-branched, brown; luminae large.

* In rock crevices on high mountains; 3500–3800 m. Xizang.

32. Lepisorus lancifolius Ching, Bull. Fan Mem. Inst. Biol. Bot. 11: 75. 1941.

披针瓦韦  pi zhen wa wei

Plants 15–20 cm tall. Rhizomes creeping, densely scaly; scales lanceolate, clathrate, isodiametric, tough, base broadly ovate, margins dentate, apex with long awn. Fronds ± closely spaced; stipe brownish, 1–2 cm; lamina reddish brown or slightly brownish on both surfaces when dried, lanceolate, 14–25 × 1.4–2.4 cm, papery, base attenuate, decurrent, margin flat and straight, apex shortly acuminate; costa slightly raised on both sides, veinlets slightly visible. Sori rounded, located between costa and margins, covered with paraphysis when young; paraphysis dark brown, stellate.

* On rocks under mixed forests. Yunnan.

33. Lepisorus sublinearis (Baker) Ching, Bull. Fan. Mem. Inst. Biol. Bot. 4: 78. 1933.

滇瓦韦  dian wa wei

Polypodium sublineare Baker & Takeda, Notes Roy. Bot. Gard. Edinburgh 8: 276. 1915.

Plants 15–25 cm tall. Rhizomes creeping, strong, densely scaly; scales adnate, lanceolate, clathrate, isodiametric, thinner and easily broken, base ovate, apex longer awned. Fronds closely spaced or remote; stipe strong and straw colored, 1–5 cm; lamina grayish green or brownish on both surfaces when dried, broadly lanceolate, widest 1/3 from base, 15–30 × (1.6–)2–5 cm, thickly papery or thinly leathery, base attenuate, decurrent, apex shortly acuminate; costa raised on both sides, veinlets obscure. Sori rounded, on distal half of lamina, located between costa and margins, covered with paraphysis when young; paraphysis brown, stellate.

· On tree trunks or rocks of forest understories; 1800–2500 m. Yunnan.

34. Lepisorus kuchenensis (Y. C. Wu) Ching, Bull. Fan Mem, Inst. Biol. Bot. 4: 69. 1933.

瑶山瓦韦  yao shan wa wei

Polypodium kuchenense Y. C. Wu [??in or ex Ching], Bull. Dept. Biol. Sun Yatsen Univ. 3: 276. 1932; Pleopeltis kuchenensis (Y. C. Wu) Á. Löve & D. Löve.

Plants 15–30 cm tall. Rhizomes long and creeping, strong, densely scaly; scales adnate, brownish, suboblong-ovate, clathrate; luminae subsquare, isodiametric, membranous, margins slightly undulate, Fronds remote; stipe straw colored or brownish, 2–7 cm; lamina deep brown on both surfaces or abaxially greenish and adaxially grayish green when dried, broadly lanceolate, widest nearly 1/3–1/2 from base, 12–30 × 3.5–6 cm., normally membranous, less often herbaceous or thinly papery, base attenuate or abruptly attenuate, decurrent, margin flatly straight or slightly undulate, apex acute or long caudate; costa raised on both sides, veinlets obviously visible. Sori rounded or elliptic, up to 5 mm. in diam. located between costa and margins, covered with paraphysis when young; paraphysis brown, rounded; luminae large.

· On tree trunks, forest understories on wet rocky cliffs; 1200–1700 m. Guangxi, Guizhou, Taiwan, Yunnan.

The type specimen is from Guangxi (Yaoshan). The occurrence in Taiwan is based on a single collection from 1940 (Imaseki 70500 (TNS) and it has not been possible to relocate this taxon in Taiwan (Knapp, R. 2011. Ferns and Fern Allies of Taiwan: 464, 785).

35. Lepisorus megasorus (C. Christensen) Ching, Bull. Fan Mem. Inst. Biol. Bot. 4: 79[??47]. 1933.

宝岛瓦韦  bao dao wa wei

Polypodium megasorum C. Christensen, Index Filic. fasc. 9: 544. 1906; Polypodium macrosorum Baker, J. Bot. 23: 106. 1885, not Fée (1850).

Rhizome long creeping, 2–4 mm in diam.; scales often caducous, ovate-lanceolate, 2–4 × 1–1.5 mm, basifixed, broad base contrasting with long acuminate apex, margin pale brown, minutely denticulate; luminae [??]. Fronds 0.5–2 cm apart; stipe 5–25 cm, 1–2 mm in diam.; lamina lanceolate, 15–40 × 1.5–4 cm, widest toward base, leathery or softly leathery; leaf scales rounded or lanceolate; luminae brown and hyaline; veinlets obscure. Sori medial, 3–3.5 mm in diam.; paraphyses caducous, 0.5–0.8 mm in diam. [??two descriptions]

Plants 10–20 cm tall. Rhizomes creeping, densely scaly; scales brownish, lanceolate, clathrate; luminae subrhomboid to rectangular, base ovate, lanceolate, margins denticulate, apex attenuate. Fronds remote; stipe straw colored to deep brown, 2–10 cm or more; lamina deep brown on both surfaces when dried, nearly elliptic-lanceolate or narrowly lanceolate, widest 1/3 from base, 12–40 × 0.8–2.2 cm, thinly leathery, base attenuate, long decurrent, margin flat and straight, apex bluntly acuminate; costa raised on both sides, veinlets obscure. Sori rounded, usually along distal half of lamina, or near apex of lamina, located between costa and margins, covered with paraphysis when young; paraphysis brown, subrounded; luminae large, transparent and membranous.[??two descriptions]

· On tree trunks of forest understories; 500–800 m. Taiwan.

36. Lepisorus kawakamii (Hayata) Tagawa, Acta Phytotax. Geobot. 5(2): 109. 1936.

鳞瓦葦 lín wa wěi

Polypodium kawakamii Hayata, Bot. Mag. (Tokyo) 23: 77. 1909; P. hypochrysum Hayata.

Rhizome long creeping, 2–3 mm in diam., scales caducous, mainly at apex and near phyllopodia; scales ovate, 1–1.2 × 1–1.1 mm, basifixed, margin entire, apex acuminate; luminae uniformly small. Fronds 0.5–1.5 cm apart; stipe 7–15 cm, 1.5–2 mm in diam.; lamina linear-lanceolate, 25–40 × 1–2 cm, widest at or below middle, leathery or softly leathery; leaf scales rounded or lanceolate; veinlets obscure. Sori medial or sometimes nearer margin, 3–4.5 mm in diam., paraphyses 0.5–0.7 mm in diam.

· On tree trunks of forest understories; 1800–2000 m. Taiwan.

37. Lepisorus virescens Ching & S. K. Wu, Fl. Xizang. 1: 306. 1983.

绿色瓦韦  lu se wa wei

Plants up to 20 cm tall. Rhizomes creeping, densely scaly; scales lanceolate; middle luminae subsquare, margins subentire. Fronds ± closely spaced; stipe straw colored, frond nearly sessile or stipe up to 1.5 cm; lamina greenish on both surfaces when dried, oblong-lanceolate, 12–21 × 2–3.7 cm, herbaceous, base attenuate, decurrent, margin smooth, apex shortly acuminate; costa raised on both sides, veinlets distinct. Sori rounded or elliptic, on distal half of lamina, located between costa and margins, covered with paraphysis; paraphysis brown with paler margins, rounded.

· On tree trunks or rocks of forest understories; 1400–2500 m. Xizang, Yunnan.

The type specimen is from Xizang (Jilon).

38. Lepisorus scolopendrius (Buchanan-Hamilton ex D. Don) Menhra & Bir, Res. Bull. Panjab. Univ., Sci., n.s., 15: 168. 1964.

棕鳞瓦韦  zong lin wa wei

Polypodium scolopendrium Buchanan-Hamilton ex D. Don, Prodr. Fl. Nepal. 1. 1825 [not Polypodium scolopendria Burm., Fl. Ind. 232. 1768]; Lepisorus excavatus (Bory ex Willdenow) Ching var. scolopendrium (Buchanan-Hamilton ex D. Don) Ching; L. leiopteris (Kunze) Bir & Trikha; Pleopeltis leiopteris (Kunze) S. Singh & Panigrahi; P. scolopendrium (Buchanan-Hamilton ex D. Don) Alston & Bonner; Polypodium excavatum Bory ex Willdenow var. concolor Takeda; P. leiopteris Kunze.

Plants 15–30 cm tall. Rhizomes creeping, strong, densely scaly; scales adnate, brown, lanceolate; luminae subsquare and transparent, margin entire, apex acuminate. Fronds remote or closely spaced; stipe straw colored, 2–5 cm, sparsely scaly at base; lamina reddish brown on both surfaces when dried, narrowly lanceolate, widest ca. 1/3 from base, 15–45 × 1–4 cm, herbaceous or thinly papery, margin nearly flat, straight or slightly undulate, apex acute or long caudate-acuminate; costa raised on both sides, veinlets slightly visible. Sori rounded or elliptic, usually along distal half of lamina, close to costa, covered with paraphysis when young; paraphysis brown, rounded, entire.

On tree trunks or rocks of forest understories; 500–2800 m. Guizhou, Hainan, Sichuan, Taiwan, Xizang, Yunnan [N India, Nepal].

39. Lepisorus paleparaphysus Y. X. Lin, Fl. Reipubl. Popularis Sin. 6(2): 347. 2000, [see IPNI: check spelling].

淡丝瓦韦  dan si wa wei

Plants 15–40 cm tall. Rhizomes strong and creeping, densely scaly; scales deep brown, lanceolate; middle luminae broadly square, marginal luminae smaller, paler brown, margin entire, tightly adnate on rhizomes. Fronds closely spaced or remote; stipe straw colored, nearly sessile up to 3 cm; lamina brownish green or greenish or yellowish green to yellowish green and less gray-green on both surfaces when dried, narrowly lanceolate to broadly lanceolate, usually widest 1/3 from base, 7–40 × 1–3.5 cm, papery, abaxially covered with adnate scales, attenuate and decurrent to base or abruptly attenuate straight to joint of rhizomes, margin flat and straight, apex attenuate; acute; costa raised on both sides, veinlets obviously visible. Sori rounded, closer to costa, covered with paraphysis when young; paraphysis rounded, center brown, margin paler, entire.

On tree trunks or rocks of forest understories; 2300–2800 m. Guizhou, Hainan, Sichuan, Taiwan, Xizang, Yunnan [N India, Nepal].

The type specimen is from Yunnan (Yangbi).

40. Lepisorus bicolor Ching, Bull. Fan Mem. Inst. Biol. Bot. 4: 66. 1933.

二色瓦韦  er se wa wei

Polypodium excavatum Bory ex Willdenow var. bicolor Takeda; P. oligolepidum H. Christ [??not Baker 1880, not C. Christensen 1931].

Plants 15–30(-35) cm tall. Rhizomes creeping, strong, ca. 5 mm in diam., densely scaly; scales adnate, nearly black at center, broadly ovate-lanceolate; luminae fine and dense, margins brownish and with irregular sharp spines, apex acuminate. Fronds closely spaced or remote; stipe (1–)2–6(–8) cm, robust, ca. 1 mm. in diam., sparsely scaly; lamina brownish or gray-green on both surfaces when dried, lanceolate, widest 1/3–1/2 from base, both ends attenuate, (8–)13–28 × 1–4 cm, herbaceous or thinly papery, abaxially with sparse adnate scales, adaxially smooth, base cuneate, long decurrent, margin flatly straight and entire, apex acuminate or obtuse; costa raised on both sides, veinlets normally obscure. Sori elliptic or subrounded, large, usually along distal half of lamina, or near end of lamina, closer to costa, covered with paraphysis when young; paraphysis black, subrounded; central luminae large and transparent, with irregular luminae around sides, cell walls brown, thickened, margins erose, membranous.

· In rock crevices beside streams of forest understories or at roadsides on mountain slopes; 1000–3300 m. Guizhou, Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan.

41. Lepisorus morrisonensis (Hayata) H. Ito, J. Jap. Bot. 11: 92. 1935.

白边瓦韦  bai bian wa wei

Polypodium morrisonense Hayata, Bot. Mag. (Tokyo) 23: 77. 1909.

Plants 10–30 cm tall. Rhizomes creeping, strong, densely scaly; scales deep brown, broadly lanceolate; middle luminae small, square to rectangular, cell walls thickened, cell cavities narrow, opaque, margins brownish and transparent and usually erose, apex acuminate, attached by one point. Fronds normally closely spaced; stipe straw colored, 1–3 cm, sparsely scaly; lamina greenish on both surfaces or abaxially yellowish, adaxially gray-green when dried, narrowly elliptic-lanceolate, widest at middle, 12–30 × 1–3 cm, herbaceous to thickly papery, base attenuate, decurrent, margin flat and straight, apex acuminate or shortly acute; costa raised on both sides, abaxially sparsely scaly; veinlets visible. Sori rounded, slightly closer to costa, covered with paraphysis when young; paraphysis brown, rounded; luminae large, transparent.

On tree trunks or rocks of forest understories; 1300–4100 m. Sichuan, Taiwan, Xizang, Yunnan [N India, Nepal].

42. Lepisorus subsessilis Ching & Y. X. Lin, Fl. Reipubl. Popularis Sin. 6(2): 347. 2000.

短柄瓦韦  duan bin wa wei

Plants 10–25 cm tall. Rhizomes creeping, densely scaly; scales deep brown, toward margin brownish to nearly colorless, lanceolate; middle luminae small, long-square, cell walls thickened, luminae shortly square, transparent, base broadly ovate, margins erose, apex shortly acuminate, Fronds remote; stipe ± deep brown, 0.5–1.5 cm, hard and smooth; lamina when dried abaxially grayish brown, adaxially deep brown, narrowly lanceolate, 20–25 × 1–1.5 cm., thinly leathery, base cuneate, decurrent, margin slightly revolute, apex shortly acuminate; costa raised on both sides, veinlets obscure. Sori rounded, on distal half of lamina, closer to margin, covered with paraphysis when young; paraphysis brown, rounded; luminae small, transparent.

· On rocks of shaded forest understories; ca. 1000 m. Guangxi (Fengshan).

43. Lepisorus cespitosus Y. X. Lin, Fl. Reipubl. Popularis Sin. 6(2): 347. 2000.

丛生瓦韦  cong sheng wa wei

Plants 15–25 cm tall. Rhizomes short and decumbent, densely scaly; scales deep brown, lanceolate, cell walls thickened; luminae small, subsquare, thick in texture, base broadly ovate, margins dentate, apex attenuate into long awn. Fronds clustered; stipe straw colored, frond subsessile or stipe up to 0.5 cm; lamina when dried abaxially grayish green or yellowish, adaxially brownish, lanceolate, widest at or below middle, 13–30 × 1.3–1.8 cm, subpapery, base attenuate and decurrent nearly to base of stipe, margin flatly straight or slightly undulate, apex attenuate, long caudate; costa raised on both sides, veinlets obscure. Sori rounded, closer to margin, covered with paraphysis when young; paraphysis deep brown, stellate.

· On tree trunks or rocks of evergreen broad-leaved forest understories; 1600–2000 m. Xizang.

44. Lepisorus longus Ching, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 10: 192. 1965.

长叶瓦韦  chang ye wa wei

Lepisorus longifolius Ching & C. H. Wang, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 8: 170. 1959, not (Blume) Holttum (1955).

Plants ca. 45 cm. tall. Rhizomes long and creeping, densely covered with scales at apices (mostly fallen from old ones); scales ovate-lanceolate, apices acuminate, bases subrounded; luminae shortly square, upper ones subrectangular, walls incrassate, deep brown, marginal walls of luminae thin, brownish and entire. Fronds remote; stipe stramineous to deep brown, 5–10 cm, smooth; lamina after dried greenish on abaxial surface, brownish on adaxial surface, or brown on adaxial surface, yellowish green on abaxial surface, elongate to lanceolate, 15–30 × 1–2.2 cm, leathery, base cuneate and decurrent, margins flatly straight or slightly recurved, apex acuminate. Main veins raised on both sides, veinlets obscure. Sori rounded, borne in upper half parts of laminae, or attached only in a part of apex, located between margins and main veins, covered with brown, rounded paraphysis when young.

· On tree trunks of forest understories; 900–1200 m. Hainan.

Lepisorus longus resembles the following species, L. affinis Ching, but is smaller with 11 vascular bundles in the rhizome and 5 in the stipe whereas L. affinis has 14 bundles in the rhizome and 3 in the stipe.

45. Lepisorus affinis Ching, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 8: 169. 1959 [see page 169 instead].

海南瓦韦  hai nan wa wei

Plants 67–70 cm tall. Rhizomes long and creeping, densely scaly at tip; scales brownish, ovate-lanceolate; luminae isodiametric, brownish, transparent, base broadly rounded, margin entire, apex acuminate, Fronds remote; stipe straw colored to deep brown, 5–10 cm, hard and smooth; base with 3 vascular bundles arranged in a triangle; lamina deep brown or gray-green on both surfaces when dried, broadly ribbon shaped, both ends attenuate, ca. 60 × 2.5–3.2 cm, leathery, both surfaces glabrous, base narrowly cuneate and decurrent, margin entire, apex obtuse or acuminate; costa raised on both sides, veinlets obscure. Sori rounded or elliptic, closer to margin, covered with paraphysis when young.

· On tree trunks of forest understories; 900–1700 m. Hainan (Qiongzhong).

46. Lepisorus ussuriensis (Regel & Maack) Ching, Bull. Fan Mem. Inst. Biol. Bot. 4: 91. 1933.

乌苏里瓦韦  wu su li wa wei

Plant 10–15 cm tall. Rhizome slender and creeping, densely scaly; scales dark brown, lanceolate, up to 1 mm; luminae large and transparent, slightly isodiametric, upward abruptly narrowed, rectangular, cell wall thickened, base subrounded, margin denticulate. apex extended into long awn. Fronds 3–22 mm apart; stipe straw colored or brownish to dark brown, 1.5–5 cm, smooth and glabrous; lamina linear-lanceolate, 4–13 × 0.5–1 cm, both ends attenuate, papery to nearly leathery, base cuneate, decurrent, margin slightly revolute, apex shortly acuminate or obtuse; costa raised on both sides, veinlet obscure. Sori rounded, located between costa and margins, covered with paraphysis when young; paraphysis dark brown, stellate.

In rock crevices of forest understories or shaded slopes; 700–1700 m. Anhui, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Henan, Jiangxi, Jilin, Liaoning, Shandong, Zhejiang [Japan, Korea, Russia].

1a.     Fronds abaxially glabrous, apex shortly acuminate or obtuse; rhizome scales with apex extended into long awn     46a. var. ussuriensis

1b.    Fronds abaxially with ovate scales, apex acuminate; rhizome scales with apex acuminate ......  46b. var. distans

46a. Lepisorus ussuriensis var. ussuriensis

乌苏里瓦韦(原变种)  wu su li wa wei  (yuan bian zhong)

Pleopeltis ussuriensis Regel & Maack, Mém. Acad. Imp. Sci. Saint Pétersbourg, Sér. 7, 4: 175. 1861; Polypodium ussuriense Regel.

Rhizome scales with apex extended into long awn. Fronds abaxially glabrous, apex shortly acuminate or obtuse.

· In rock crevices of forest understories or shaded slopes; 700–1700 m. Anhui, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Henan, Jilin, Liaoning, Shandong [Japan, Korea, Russia].

46b. Lepisorus ussuriensis var. distans (Makino) Tagawa, Acta Phytotax. Geobot. 11: 236. 1942.

远叶瓦韦  yuan ye wa wei

Polypodium lineare [??Burm. f. or Thunb.] var. distans Makino, Bot. Mag. (Tokyo) 15(170): 60–61. 1901; Lepisorus distans (Makino) Ching; P. annuifrons Makino var. distans (Makino) Nakai; P. distans (Makino) Makino (1906), not Kaulfuss (1824), nor D. Don (1825), nor Raddi (1825).

Rhizome slender and creeping, 1–1.5 mm in diam., densely scaly at tip; scales caducous on older parts; scales adpressed, dark brown, ovate-subtriangular to broadly ovate, 0.5–0.7 mm, apex acuminate Stipe blackish brown, up to 5 cm; lamina linear-lanceolate, 8–20 × 0.5–1.5 cm, stiffly papery, abaxially with caducous, adpressed, 0.3–0.5 mm, ovate scales, base gradually narrowing and decurrent margin entire, sometimes revolute, apex acuminate, costa raised on both sides, abaxially blackish brown. Sori rounded, equidistant between margin and costa.

Anhui, Jiangxi, Shandong, Zhejiang [Japan, Korea].

47. Lepisorus pseudoussuriensis Tagawa, Acta Phytotax. Geobot. 5: 110. 1936.

拟乌苏里瓦苇  ni wu li wa wei

Lepisorus angustifrons Tagawa.

Plants 10–20 cm tall. Rhizomes slender and decurrent, densely scaly; scales deep brown, lanceolate; luminae large, isodiametric, middle ones subrectangular, walls slightly thickened, base broadly ovate, upward attenuate, margin shortly serrate, apex extended into long awn. Fronds remote; stipe brown, 1.2–12 cm; lamina brown when dried on both surfaces, linear-lanceolate, 10–20 × 0.3–0.8 cm, papery, smooth, base cuneate, decurrent, margin flatly straight or slightly revolute, apex shortly acuminate; costa raised on both sides, veinlets obscure. Sori elliptic, located between costa and margins, covered with paraphysis when young; paraphysis brown, subrounded; luminae large, subsquare, transparent.

· On tree trunks or moss-covered rocks of forest understories; 1000–3000 m. Taiwan.

48. Lepisorus nudus (Hooker) Ching, Bull. Fan Mem. Inst. Biol., Bot. 4(3): 83. 1933.

吉隆瓦韦  ji long wa wei

Pleopeltis nuda Hooker, Exot. Fl. 1: t. 63.. 1823; Drynaria nuda (Hooker) Fée; Lepisorus gyirongensis Ching & S. K. Wu; Phymatodes nuda (W. J. Hooker) J. Smith; Polypodium loriforme Hooker; P. nudiusculum Kunze.

Plants 15–23 cm. tall. Rhizomes slender and creeping, densely covered with scales; scales ovate-lanceolate, shortly acuminate at apices; middle luminae elongate, wall thickened, transparent, nearly deep brown, entire. Fronds remote; stipe deep brown, 3–4.5 cm, smooth; lamina after dried gray-green on both surfaces, or brown, lanceolate, 15–20 × 0.1–1.2 cm, papery or thinly herbaceous, base cuneate and decurrent. margin flatly straight or slightly recurved, apex shortly acuminate. Main veins raised on both sides, veinlets obscure. Sori subrounded, borne in upper 1/3 part of lamina, located between margins and main veins, slightly close to main veins, covered with paraphysis when young; paraphysis deep brown, rounded; middle luminae subsquare and transparent.

On rocks of forest understories; ca. 2400 m. Xizang (Jilong), Yunnan [India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand].

49. Lepisorus elegans Ching & W. M. Chu, Acta Phytotax. Yunnan., Suppl. 5: 56[??55]. 1992.

片马瓦韦  pian ma wa wei

Plants 13–23 cm tall. Rhizomes creeping, densely scaly; scales broadly ovate; luminae large, nearly shortly square to square, transparent, occasionally with shortly transparent narrowly belts at bases, margin entire, apex awned. Fronds remote or closely spaced; stipe straw colored to deep brown, 1–3 cm; lamina abaxially grayish green when dried, adaxially green, lanceolate, both ends attenuate, 12–20 × 1–1.6 cm, nearly thinly herbaceous, glabrous on both surfaces, base cuneate, slightly decurrent, apex long caudate; costa raised on both sides, veinlets obscure. Sori rounded, on upper part of lamina, or distal 1/3 of lamina, located between costa and margins, covered with paraphysis when young; paraphysis brown, rounded; luminae small, with awn-spines at margins.

· On tree trunks of forest understories; 2100–2300 m. Yunnan (Lushui, Pianma).

50. Lepisorus sinuatus (Ching & S. K. Wu) Y. X. Lin, Fl. Reipubl. Popularis Sin. 6(2): 85. 2000.

多变瓦韦  duo bian wa wei

Platygyria sinuata Ching & S. K. Wu, Acta Bot. Yunnan. 2(1): 71. 1980; Lepisorus variabilis Ching & S. K. Wu,  nom. inval. [holotype not indicated]; Platygyria kongtingensis Ching & Y. X. Lin; P. muliensis Ching & S. K. Wu; P. variabilis Ching & S. K. Wu [as ‘comb. nov.]; Pleopeltis variabilis (Ching & S. K. Wu) S. Singh & Panigrahi.

Plants 5–15 cm tall. Rhizomes long and creeping, 2–3 mm. in diam. densely scaly; scales deep brown, ovate-lanceolate, clathrate, transparent, margins with long and thick spinelike serrations, apex long acuminate. Fronds closely spaced or remote; stipe straw colored, 1–4(–6) cm; lamina grayish on both surfaces when dried, elliptic-lanceolate, 5–15 × 1–2 cm., thinly herbaceous, with 1 or 2 scales on abaxial surface, glabrous on adaxial surface, base cuneate, slightly asymmetrical, decurrent, margin flat and straight, apex mostly obtuse; costa slender, raised on both sides, veinlets faintly visible. Sori subrounded or elliptic, located between costa and margins, covered with paraphysis when young; paraphyses deep brown, scalelike; luminae irregular, large and transparent, margins with long, thick spines. Sporangia subrounded, most with broad annulus. Spores elliptic, surface nearly smooth or rugulate.

In rock crevices below thickets or in moss on wet rocks; 2700–3500 m. Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan [NW India, Nepal].

The type specimen is from Xizang (Bomi).

51. Lepisorus crassipes Ching & Y. X. Lin, Acta Bot. Yunnan. 5(1): 18. 1983.

粗柄瓦韦  cu bing wa wei

Lepisorus hsiawutaiensis Ching & S. K. Wu; L. kansuensis Ching & Y. X. Lin[??Ching & S. K. Wu]; L. ligulatus Ching & S. K. Wu; L. maowenensis Ching & S. K. Wu; L. patungensis Ching & S. K. Wu; L. shanyangensis Ching & Y. X. Lin; L. sungpanensis Ching & Y. X. Lin.

Plants 7–21 cm tall. Rhizomes creeping, densely scaly; scales dark brown, lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, clathrate; luminae polygonal, isodiametric, transparent, thin in texture and easily broken, margins with long and thick spines, apex long acute. Fronds closely spaced; stipe straw colored, 0.5–6 cm, smooth; lamina grayish brown to gray-green on both surfaces or abaxially brownish when dried, lanceolate to ligulate, widest at or slightly below middle, 4–15 × 0.6–1.3 cm, thinly papery to thinly leathery, base cuneate, decurrent, margin straight, flat or slightly revolute. apex obtuse to bluntly acuminate; costa raised on both sides, veinlets obscure. Sori rounded or almost rounded, along distal 1/2–2/3 of lamina, ± equidistant between costa and margin, clearly separate, covered with paraphysis when young; paraphysis dark brown, small, scalelike; luminae large and transparent, margins with long spines.

· On tree trunks of forest understories or rocks along roadsides at forest margins; ca. 2300 m. Gansu, Hebei, Hubei, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Sichuan.[??font colors??]

52. Lepisorus clathratus (C. B. Clarke) Ching, Bull. Fan Mem Inst. Biol. Bot. 4: 71. 1933.

网眼瓦韦  wang yian wa wei

Polypodium clathratum C. B. Clarke, Trans. Linn. Soc. London, Bot. 2: 559. 1880; Lepisorus nepalensis K. Iwatsuki; L. petiolatus Ching & Y. X. Lin; L. soulieanus (H. Christ) Ching & S. K. Wu; Platygyria soulieana (H. Christ) X. C. Zhang & Q. R. Liu; Pleopeltis soulieanus H. Christ, [‘soulieanum’].

Plants 5–17 cm tall. Rhizomes long and creeping, densely scaly; scales ± deep brown, lanceolate to ovate; basal luminae nearly square, isodiametric, distal ones subrectangular, base ovate, margins shortly dentate, apex shortly acute. Fronds remote or ± closely spaced; stipe straw colored, 0.7–6.3 cm, slender; lamina greenish or brownish green on both surfaces when dried, lanceolate, both ends attenuate, 5–13 × 0.8–1.5 cm, herbaceous to nearly membranous, base cuneate, slightly decurrent, margin flat and straight, apex acuminate; costa slightly raised on both sides, veinlets ± visible. Sori subrounded, located between costa and margins, covered with paraphysis when young; paraphysis dark brown, scalelike, margins serrate.

On tree trunks in broad-leaved evergreen forests, in rock crevices on slopes, or stony river banks; 2000–4300 m. Guangxi, Qinghai, Sichuan, Xizang [India (Kashmir), Nepal].

Lepisorus soulieanus has been placed in a different genus, Platygyria, on the basis of the distinctive sporangium annulus of broad, pale, thin-walled cells but this is not a consistent feature with some collections showing a range from these to normal leptosporangoid annuli.  Lepisorus petiolatus was primarily separated on the basis of the long slender stipe but this too is a very variable feature with no obvious discontinuity to justify the recognition of distinct taxa.

53. Lepisorus likiangensis Ching & S. K. Wu, Acta Bot. Yunnan. 5(1): 12. 1983.

丽江瓦韦  li jiang wa wei

Lepisorus coaetaneus Ching & Y. X. Lin; L. shansiensis Ching & Y. X. Lin; L. shensiensis Ching & S. K. Wu.

Plants 8–18 cm tall. Rhizomes long and creeping, densely covered with scales; scales broadly lanceolate; luminae large and decurrent, polygonal, of same diameter, with long awn sharp at apices, deep brown, with thick and long spines along margins. Fronds remote or approximate; stipe straw colored, 0.4–4 cm; lamina after dried gray-green on abaxial surface, yellow-green or deep brown on adaxial surface, or brownish or greenish on both surfaces, linear-lanceolate or lanceolate, 7–16 × 0.6–1.8 cm, thickly papery or subleathery, glabrous on both surfaces, base cuneate and decurrent, margins flat and straight, apex hebetate[??] or obtuse. Main veins raised on both sides , veinlets obscure or raised on both sides. Sori elliptic or subrounded, located between margins and main veins, slightly close to main veins, covered with paraphysis; paraphysis small, squamous; luminae large and transparent, deep brown, with thick and long spines along margins.

· In shaded, wet rock crevices of slopes or on rocky cliffs beside streams; 2400–3500 m. Gansu, Guizhou, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Sichuan.

54. Lepisorus thaipaiensis Ching & S. K. Wu, Acta Bot. Yunnan. 5(1): 5[??8]. 1983.

太白瓦韦  tai bai wa wei

Lepisorus henanensis Ching & S. K. Lin; L. venosus Ching & S. K. Wu.

Plants 10–20 cm tall. Rhizomes creeping, densely covered with scales; scales brownish, lanceolate; luminae clathrate and subsquare, upward ones subrectangular, with long awn sharp at apex and with long opened spines along margins. Fronds remote; stipe straw colored, 3–4 cm, slender; lamina after dried grayish green on both surfaces, lanceolate, widest at middle or 1/3 lower parts, 4–8 × 1–1.4 cm, herbaceous, base cuneate, margin flat and straight, apex shortly acuminate. Main veins raised on under side, on upper side flat or slightly raised or depressed in limited places, veinlets obscure. Sori subrounded, located between margins and main veins, covered with paraphysis when young; paraphyses scalelike; luminae large and transparent, with opened thick spines along margins and brown.

· In wet rock crevices of mountain slopes; 2800–3800 m. Henan, Qinghai, Shaanxi.

55. Lepisorus albertii (Regel) Ching, Acta Bot. Yunnan. 5(1): 20. 1983.

天山瓦韦  tian shan wa wei

Lepisorus clathratus Ching var. papakense (Masamune) Tagawa; L. papakensis (Masamune) Ching & Y. X. Lin; L. pumilus Ching & S. K. Wu; Polypodium lineare C. Christensen (1905)[not Houttyun (1783), nor N. L. Burman (1768), nor Thunberg (1784)]; P. lineare var. albertii (Regel) C. Christensen; P. papakense Masamune.

Plants 5–10 cm tall. Rhizomes creeping, 2–3 mm in diam. densely scaly; scales deep brown, lanceolate; luminae subsquare or shortly rectangular, large and transparent, base broadly ovate, attenuate upward, with thick and long spines along margins, apex extended into long awn. Fronds closely spaced or remote; stipe (1–)2–10 cm, slender, smooth; lamina greenish to dark green or grayish brown or yellowish on both surfaces when dried, sublanceolate or lanceolate, both ends attenuate, 5–22(–29) × (0.4–)1–2(–2.6) cm, herbaceous to papery, glabrous or abaxially sparsely scaly, base cuneate, decurrent, margin flat and straight or slightly undulate, apex obtuse; costa raised on both sides, veinlets obscure. Sori subrounded, slightly closer to costa, covered with paraphysis when young; paraphyses deep brown, scalelike; luminae large and transparent, margins with long, thick spines.

· In shaded and wet rock crevices of mountain slopes or on tree trunks of forest understories; 1500–4300 m. Gansu, Hebei, Henan, Nei Mongol, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Sichuan, Taiwan, Xinjiang, Xizang, Yunnan.

56. Lepisorus waltonii (Ching) S. L. Yu, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 35: 343. 1997.

掌状扇蕨  zhang zhuang shan jue

Neocheiropteris waltonii Ching, Hooker's Icon. Pl. 32: t. 3158. 1932; Platygyria inaequibasis Ching & S. K. Wu; P. waltonii (Ching) Ching & S. K. Wu; Polypodium clathratum C. B. Clarke var. lobatum Takeda.

Plants up to 13 cm tall. Rhizomes creeping, as thick as a goose quill, black, densely scaly; scales lanceolate, clathrate; luminae isodiametric, oblong toward apex, base ovate, margins with short spines, apex acuminate. Fronds remote or ± closely spaced; stipe straw colored, 4–6 cm, angular; lamina hastate to pedately 3–5-lobed, 4–7 × 2–3 cm, middle lobe 3–6 × 0.5–0.8 cm, base broadly cuneate to subcordate, shortly decurrent, margin slightly undulate, apex obtuse; midrib raised abaxially, veinlets obscure. Sori elliptic or almost rounded, close to costa; paraphyses ± black, scalelike, lanceolate to subrhomboidal. Sporangia subspherical, with broad, thin-walled annulus. Spores ellipsoid, surface smooth.

* 3400–4600 m. Xizang.

Hemsley (J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 35: 206. 1902) treated material of this species as Polypodium hastatum Thunberg.

57. Lepisorus mucronatus (Fée) Li Wang, Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 162: 35. 2010.

尖嘴蕨  jian zui jue

Hymenolepis mucronata Fée, Mém. Foug., 5 (Gen. Filic.): 82 1852; Acrostichum spicatum Linnaeus f. var. schneideri F. M. Bailey; Belvisia callifolia (H. Christ) Copeland; B. melanesica Brownlie; B. minor (Copeland) Copeland; B. mucronata (Fée) Copeland; B. vaupelii (C. Christensen) Copeland; Hymenolepis callifolia H. Christ; H. minor Copeland; H. mucronata Fée f. australiensis C. Christensen; H. mucronata f. graminifolia (Rosenstock) C. Christensen; H. mucronata f. helocharidioides C. Christensen; H. mucronata f. latior C. Christensen; H. mucronata var. nigropunctata C. Christensen; H. spicata (Linnaeus f.) C. Presl var. bakhuizenii Alderwerelt; H. spicata var. graminifolia Rosenstock; H. spicata f. longipaleacea Alderwerelt; H. spicata var. novoguineensis Rosenstock; H. spicata f. schneideri (F. M. Bailey) Alderwerelt; H. spicata var. squamulifera Alderwerelt; H. vaupelii [??Hieronymus ex] C. Christensen; Macroplethus callifolius (H. Christ) Tagawa; M. vaupelii (C. Christensen) Tagawa.

Rhizomes with long serrate margin. Stipe variable in length, frond subsessile or stipe up to 7 cm; lamina pale brown when dried, narrowly lanceolate, base attenuate and long-decurrent, sterile lower part 10–30 × (1)3–4 cm, herbaceous, both surfaces glabrous, margins entire, apex gradually narrowed into fertile tip 3–12 × 0.1–0.3 cm with slightly recurved margins when dried. Main vein raised on both surfaces, veinlets faintly visible. Sori fully covering abaxial surface of lamina when mature, peltate and laterally affixed paraphyses present.

On tree trunks in forest understories; 1200–1600 m. Taiwan, Yunnan [subtropical Asia, from Sri Lanka to Polynesia, Indo-China peninsula [list individual countries]].

58. Lepisorus henryi (Hieronymus ex C. Christensen) Li Wang, Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 162: 35. 2010.

隐柄尖嘴蕨  yin bing jian zui jue

Hymenolepis henryi Hieronymus ex C. Christensen, Dansk Bot. Ark. 6: 67. 1929; Belvisia henryi (Hieronymus ex C. Christensen) Raymond; Macroplethus henryi (Hieronymus ex C. Christensen) Tagawa.

Rhizomes scales dentate at base, entire toward apex. Fronds nearly sessile or very shortly stipitate; lamina ovate-lanceolate or elliptic, base attenuate and long decurrent nearly to articulation of stipe; sterile lower part 20–30 × 3–5 cm, leathery when dry, both surfaces glabrous, margin slightly undulate, apex abruptly contracted into fertile tip 6–30 × 0.2–0.3 cm. Main vein raised on both sides, veinlets obscure. Sori spreading over abaxial surface of fertile parts when mature, peltate paraphyses present only.

On tree trunks or moss-covered rocks in forest understories; 100–1500 m. Yunnan [SW Himalaya, Thailand, N Vietnam].

59. Lepisorus annamensis (C. Christensen) Li Wang, Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 162: 35. 2010.

显脉尖嘴蕨  xian mai jian zui jue

Hymenolepis annamemsis C. Christensen, Dansk Bot. Ark. 6: 68. 1929; Belvisia annamensis (C. Christensen) Tagawa; Macroplethus annamensis (C. Christensen) Tagawa.

Rhizome scales dentate near base, entire at apex. Stipe 2–5 cm, narrowly winged; lamina pale brown to brown when dried, ovate-lanceolate or narrowly elliptic, base cuneate, decurrent, sterile lower parts 15–5 × 3.5–4.5 cm, papery, entire, contracted to linear fertile parts; fertile parts 6–20 × 0.5–1 cm. Main vein strong, raised on both sides, veinlets faintly visible. Sori leaving a narrow sterile zone free near midrib, peltate paraphyses present only.

Among moss on shaded and wet tree trunks of forest understories; 800–1100 m. Hainan [Laos, Thailand, Vietnam].