POLYPODIUML. - POLYPODY
Scientific Description:
Perennials with creeping rhizome. Leaves pinnatifid with open venation. Sori circular or oval, distinct, arranged in two rows on the pinnae. Indusium absent. Paraphyses absent or filamentous, spore bilateral.
Reference:
Davis PH (1965). Polypodium L., In: Davis PH (ed.), Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, 1: 61.
Public Description:
Polypodium, commonly known as “polypody”, spreads widely around the world and reaches the highest diversity in tropical regions. This genus consists of creeping terrestrial or epiphytic ferns. Like other ferns, this genus does not contain flower, fruit or seed. Although they have vascular systems as seen in flowering plants, they produce spores instead of seeds to reproduce. They have large leaves developing from rhizome in the underground. On the lower surface of the leaves there are brown sporangia, microscopic structures (spores) produced in these vesicles are released into the environment and spores germinate in appropriate environmental conditions to develop new plants. There are approximately 166 species in the world and 4 species (5 taxa) in Türkiye. The name is derived from Ancient Greek “poly” meaning “many” and “podium” meaning “little foot”, and it was dedicated to the foot-like appearance of the rhizome and its branches.
References:
Anonymous 1 (2018). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polypodium, Accessed date: 06.02.2018.
Anonymous 2 (2018). http://www.theplantlist.org/1.1/browse/P/Polypodiaceae/Polypodium/,Accessed date: 06.02.2018.
Anonymous 3 (2018). https://gobotany.newenglandwild.org/search/?q=POLYPODIUM,Accessed date: 06.02.2018.
Güner A (2012). Polypodium L., In: Güner, A., Aslan, S., Ekim, T., Vural, M. & Babaç, M.T. (eds.), Türkiye Bitkileri Listesi (Damarlı Bitkiler). Nezahat Gökyiğit Botanik Bahçesi ve Flora Araştırmaları Derneği Yayını. İstanbul, pp. 8.
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