Lindsaeaceae

Lindsaeaceae is a pantropical family of ferns in the order Polypodiales. It contains six (or seven) genera with about 220 known species, some of which also extend into the more temperate regions of eastern Asia, New Zealand, and South America. For more than a century, these ferns were considered part of the Davalliaceae. Then starting in the mid-twentieth century they began to be transferred to the Dennstaedtiaceae. Molecular data supported the separation of Lindsaeaseae into its own family, which was proposed in 1970. Lindsaeaseae is considered the most basal of the Polypodiales. Characteristics include: Rhizomes short to long creeping; rhizomes with nonclathrate scales or uniserate hairs; blades 1-3 pinnate or more divided; veins usually free; sori marginal or submarginal; indusia open towards margin, sometimes attached at sides, or sori covered by the reflexed segment margin The genus Lonchitis has many morphological characteristics similar to Dennstaedtiaceae, but a few characteristics of the spore are similar to the lindsaeoid genera, and molecular data strongly places this genus in Lindsaeaseae The following genera have been placed in Lindsaeaceae at some point. Those shown in bold have been retained by the reference authorities, and those indicated have been moved to other families. Genera are shown in the order of original publication. In this list, genus names prefixed with '(=)' are considered to be synonyms of the accepted genus name that precedes them.