Taxon Profile:

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Family:

Hymenophyllaceae (Pteridophyta)

Description:

Number of genera: 39

Number of species: 500

Description (from PLANTAE): Epiphytic, epilithic or terrestrial. Stems creeping, or less often erect, filiform and wiry, pubescent or glabrous. Leaves erect, pendent or matted, simple to pinnately decompound, flabellate, digitate, dichotomous or irregularly divided; petiole non-articulated, terete; blades one cell thick, rarely 2 to 4 cells thick; veins dichotomously branched. Sori terminal on the veins, solitary, at the apex of the ultimate segments or marginal on simple leaves, indusium a broad or narrow tube, shallowly or deeply bilobed at the summit. Sporangia sessile, on bristle-like receptacle; annulus oblique, complete. Gametophyte green, thalloid or filamentous

Taxonomic notes (from PLANTAE): Two subfamilies: the larger and widespread Hymenophylloideae and the monotypic Cardiomanoideae of New Zealand. Not surprisingly, considering the filmy habit, few fossils a known. The reduced habit and obligate moisture requirement are thought to be derived features manifest with the emergence of dense tropical forests.

Distribution (from PLANTAE): Primarily in tropical montane and south temperate wet forests. Most species are epiphytes and grow on mossy tree trunks and branches.

Economic uses (from PLANTAE): The filmy habit is thought to have evolved in wet tropical conditions. During dry periods, the plants turn brown and curl up as if dead; they become green and turgid again when moist conditions return (like the resurrection fern (Selaginella) and many mosses).

Flora and Monograph Treatment(s):

Hymenophyllaceae: [Book] Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.