Cochlidium

• Authority

  Mickel, John T. & Beitel, Joseph M. 1988. Pteridophyte Flora of Oaxaca, Mexico. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 46: 1-580.

• Family

  Polypodiaceae

• Scientific Name

  Cochlidium

• Description

  Genus Description - Small epiphytes; rhizome ascending to creeping; rhizome scales linear-lanceolate, tan, concolorous; fronds small, clumped, not articulate; blade undivided or occasionally furcate, entire or sinuate, lamina firm, chartaceous to subcoriaceous, glabrous or with scattered catenate hairs; veins obscure, simple or forked and sometimes united to form costal areoles without free veinlets; sori linear, consisting of a line of sporangia borne closely against costa at either side, immersed or superficial or sori intermittent or round in some species, indusia lacking, paraphyses lacking; sporangia glabrous with erect annulus; spores globose-tetrahedral, green, perispore lacking.

• Discussion

  Type: Cochlidium graminoides (Swartz) Kaulfuss [=Grammitis graminoides Swartz]; also see Bishop (1978). Xiphopteris Kaulfuss, Berlin. Jahrb. Pharm. Verbundenen Wiss. 21: 35. 1820. Lectotype (chosen by J. Smith, Hist. fil. 179. 1875): Xiphopteris serrulata (Swartz) Kaulfuss [=Acrostichum serrulatum Swartz]. For additional synonymy, see Bishop (1978). According to Bishop (1978), Cochlidium comprises 16 neotropic species, which are included in Grammitis by some workers. Two species of Cochlidium are found in Oaxaca, where they grow in wet montane rain forests. References: Bishop, L. E. 1978. Revision of the genus Cochlidium (Grammitidaceae). Amer. Fern J. 68: 76-94; Copeland, E. B. 1952. The American species of Xiphopteris. Amer. Fern J. 42: 41-52, 92-110; Max-on, W. R. 1914. Notes upon Polypodium duale and its allies. Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 17: 398-406.