terrestrial plant with no flowers or bulbs sporangia present
Herbs reproducing by spores released directly from sporangia, the sporangia variously located [on abaxial leaf face, [LYCOPHYTES and FERNS]
Plant terrestrial l; leaf 1-2 pinnate,; sporangia borne on aerial portion of leaf
Leaves all alike or nearly so, the fertile [sporangium-bearing] blades very similar in size and shape to sterile blades sporangia borne on underside of leaf blade, new leaves generally coiled, unrolling as they develop
Sori borne away from margin on underside of leaf or leaflet, sporangia clustered in distinct sori; indusia present
Sori ± round
Blade without needle-like hairs
Indusium peltate or round-reniform, attached ± in center of sorus , generally present and readily observable in late-season specimens ..... DRYOPTERIDACEAE
- Indusium round-reniform, ± centrally attached at a sinus.., DRYOPTERIS
-- Stipe generally > 1/3 leaf length; longest pinnae generally near blade base; veins into segment teeth, adaxially obscure; scales of pinna midribs lance-ovate to lanceolate ; blade, indusial glands sparse to ± dense; blades thick; ..... D. arguta
DESCRIPTION
Rhizome: anchored in soil or rocky crevices, short and creeping with large scales
Stipe/petiole: firm, base generally darker, with many vascular strands, suberect, or erect, Stipe generally > 1/3 leaf length
Blade: fertile and sterile alike, 1-2 pinnate, Leaf: 1-2 pinnate, longest leaflets at the base near blade base, abaxial veins fork into segment teeth teeth
Sporangia: Round Sori born away from margin on underside of leaf. indusium round-reniform (kidney shaped), centrally attached at a sinus
