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Genus Pellaea Family Pteridaceae

Description: Rhizome creeping, densely covered with narrow, dark, non-peltate scales.

Fronds not dimorphic, not strongly circinate; stipe wiry, brown to black, usually glossy, sometimes densely scaly, the bases persistent; lamina 1-pinnate [more compound in non-Australian species]; pinnae entire, leathery, mostly glabrous; veins obscure, free.

Sori linear, submarginal, with false indusium continuous along the margin of the pinna, formed from the reflexed margin.


Distribution and occurrence: World: c. 35 species, tropical to temperate regions. Australia: 5 species, Qld, N.S.W., Vic., Tas.

Text by Peter G. Wilson
Taxon concept:

 Key to the species 
1Fronds 1-pinnate2
Fronds 2- to 3-pinnatePellaea viridis
2Rachis scales and hairs mid-brown to dark brown, spreading, persistent; stalks of basal pinna <1.5 mm long3
Rachis scales and hairs whitish to pale brown, ± appressed, antrorse; scales often not persistent; stalks of basal pinnae at least 1.5 mm long
                       Back to 1
4
3Rachis scales mostly 3–4 mm long; pinnae 22–56 mm longPellaea falcata
Rachis scales mostly 1–2.5 mm long; pinnae 5–25 mm long
                       Back to 2
Pellaea nana
4Pinnae asymmetric, 20–60 mm long, all lateral pinnae ± the same sizePellaea paradoxa
Pinnae symmetric about the midrib, 14–30 mm long; lateral pinnae progressively reducing in length and width towards the apex of the frond
                       Back to 2
Pellaea calidirupium

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