Hymenophyllum

• Authority

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

• Family

  Hymenophyllaceae

• Scientific Name

  Hymenophyllum

• Description

  Genus Description - Mostly epiphytic, less commonly epipetric or even terrestrial; rhizome long-creeping, threadlike, hairy, the hairs basifixed or centrally attached; fronds small; stipe slender to stout, glabrous to hairy; blade pinnatifid to several times pinnate; lamina generally one cell thick, often completely glabrous, some with hairs on leaf tissue, veins, and/or margin; sori marginal, in bilabiate involucral cups; sporangia borne on short to long receptacles; spores tetrahedral-globose, green; gametophytes of branched ribbons.

• Discussion

  Lectotype (chosen by Presl, Hymenophyllaceae 31. 1843): Hymenophyllum tunbrigense (Linnaeus) J. E. Smith. Sphaerocionium Presl, Hymenophyllaceae 33. 1843. Lectotype (chosen by Copeland, Philipp. J. Sci. 64: 10. 1937): Sphaerocionium hirsutum (Linnaeus) Presl [=Hymenophyllum hirsutum (Linnaeus) Swartz]. Hymenophyllum subg. Mecodium Copeland, Philipp. J. Sci. 64: 93. 1937. Mecodium (Copeland) Presl ex Copeland, Philipp. J. Sci. 67: 17. 1938. Lectotype (chosen by Copeland, Philipp. J. Sci. 64: 10. 1937): Hymenophyllum polyanthos (Swartz) Swartz. For more complete synonymy, see Morton (1968). In a broad sense, the genus contains over 300 species, about one third of them neotropical, with a few species into wet temperate areas. Some authors, such as Copeland (1937), have split the genus into several genera. Hymenophyllum is distinct in its thin blade and bilabiate involucre with the receptacle usually not exserted. References: Copeland, E. B. 1937. Hymenophyllum. Philipp. J. Sci. 64: 1-188; Morton, C. V. 1947. The American species of Hymenophyllum section Sphaerocionium. Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 29:139-199; Morton, C. V. 1968. The genera, subgenera, and sections of the Hymenophyllaceae. Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 38: 153— 214.