Adiantaceae [First Draft]

ADIANTACEAE [FIRST DRAFT]

铁线蕨科

Lin You-xin (林尤興)

Terrestrial, middle and small ferns, the outlines much varied. Rhizomes short and erect or long and creeping, with siphonostele, covered with scales, the scales lanceolate, brown or black, thick in texture, usually entire. Fronds monomorphic, whorled clustered, scattered in two rows or compacted, unarticulated; stipes black or red-brown, polished, fine and rounded, hard as iron-wire, with one or two bundles and combined into one upwards; laminae mostly 1-3 or more pinnate or 1-3 dichotomosou palmately branching, rarely round-flabellately simple, herbaceous or chartaceous, less coriaceoua or mebranous, mostly entire; rachis, costae of every time and stalks all same colour with stipe; ultimated pinnae different in shaps, ovate, flabellate, roundly flabellate or dimidiate, margins serrate, less lobed or entire, sometime jointed, usually most fallen when dry. Veinas free, rarely anastomosing, multi-dichotomisous or radiate to all sides , dichotomous at top and reached to margins, visible on bothsides. Sori attached at of veinlets of laminal margins or pinnal margins of ends, exindusiate, covered with false indusium, that formed from reflexid margins; shapes of false induium much varied, normally rounded, reniform, semi-lunar, long-square and oblong etc. free or continues, upper margins of false indusia deeply sinus, retuse or truncate etc.; sporangia globular, long stalked, annuli erect; mostly consist of 18-28 incrassate cells; spores tetrahedric, yellowish, transparent, smooth and experine.

Two genera: Adiantum and Hewrdia. The former distributed rigins of world, the latter in S. American only, usually are considered family of single genus.

1. ADIANTUM L., Sp. Pl. 1094. 1753.

铁线蕨属

Characters of the family (except Hewardia J. Sm.).

About more 200 spicies, from cold temperate zone to tropic, most in S. American. 31 spicies in China ( 16 endemic). Chromosome X = 15 (30 ), 29.

1a. Fronds simple, subrounded or roundly renifome--------------------1. A. reniforme L. var. sinense

1b. Fronds pinnal compound.

2a. Laminae lanceolate or linear-lanceolate, 1-pinnate.

3a. Pinnae entire, after dry easy follen from joint position at end of stalks.

4a. Plants short and small, creeping on land, ca. 1.5-3 cm tall., with 3-5 samll and rotund pinnae; indusia rotund, upper margins truncate, one on per pinna-----------

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1.A. mariesii

4b. Plants erect, above 3 cm tall. usuall with 5-7 or more flabellate pinnae; indusia renifome or long-shape, upper margins retuse or truncate, one to numerous on per pinna.

5a. Plants soft and weak, stipes fine as hairs, laminae narrowly flabellate, thin in texture, stipes equal 1/3- 1/2 pinnae in length, distributed in N. Guangdong----------------------------------------------------------2. A.. lianxianense

5b. Plants strong, stipes robust, laminae broadly flabellate, stipes less than 1/5 laminae in length.

6a. Laminae obtriangular, indusia retuse at upper margins, scaly margins serrate------------------------------------------------------------------3. A. gravesii

6b. Laminae roundly flabellate or obtriangular, indusia truncate at upper margins, scaly margins entire.

7a.Laminae roundly flabellate, sori usually 3-4 on per pinna--------------------------------------------------------4. A. juxtapositum

7b. Laminae obtriangular, sori 1 or ocationally 2 on per pinna---------------

------------------------------------------------------------------------6. A. chienii

3b. Laminae more or less divided, after dry not easy follen from end of stalks (exept spicies 18).

8a. Apexes of rachises usually elongating into whip-like.

9a. Stipes, rachis and bothsides of laminae all cavered with multi-cells brown hirsute.

10a. Laminal upper margins lobed into numerous elongate lobes, whidely distributed in provinces and region of S. changjiong river, common.

11a. Laminal pinnae on lower parts gradually reduced; a pair of pinnae at lowerst parts smallest; sparse hairs on undersides of rachises and surfaces of laminae, the hairs on under surfaces of facing all direction; scales of rhizomes eitire on margins--------------------------------------------------7. A. caudatum

11b. Laminal pinnae on lower parts unreduced, a pair of pinnae at lowerest parts flabellate; dense hairs on undersides of rachises and laminal surfaces, where the hairs appressed and facing laminal front; scales of rhizomes serrate on margins----------------------------------------------8. A. malesianum

10b. Laminal upper margins lobed into 3-4 short and broad lobes, produced in Yunnan only, rare---------------------------------------------9. A. sinicum

9b. Stipes, rachises and bothsides of laminae glabrous or ocationally one or two hirsute.

12a. Stipes, rachises and stalks all with menbranous, brown wings on both lateral sides------------------------------------------------10. A. suboliferum

12b. Stipes, rachises and stalks without wing.

13a. laminae semilunar, roundly flabellate or rotund, with longer stolks.

14a. Laminae semilunar, asymmetry at bases, stalks ca. 1 cm.long---------------------------------------11. A. philippense

14b. Laminae roundly flabellate or rotund, symmetery, stalks 2-3 mm.long-----------------------------------12. A. capillus-junonis

13b.Laminae semi-dimidiate, nearly sessile-----------13. A. edgeworthii

8b.Apexes of rachises unprolongate into whipe-like---------------19. A. diaphanum

2b. Fronds flabellate, palmate, 1-3 dichotomous branched or 2-4 pinnately compound.

15a. Fronds 1-3 palmate dichotomous branched.

16a. Fronds 1-dichotomous palmate branched and growing 2-6 (8) 1-pinnate pinnae at per branch.

17a. Upper margins of pinnules parted to 1/3-1/2 length of laminae and blunt serrate at apexes, green on under surfaces; indusia retuse at upper margins---------------------------------------------------------------14. A. pedatum

17b. Upper margins of pinnules lobes and with triangular acute serrations at apexes, glaucous on under surfaces; indusia deeply sinuate at upper margins-----------------------------------------------------------15. A. myriosorum

16b. Fronds 2-3 dichotomously branched, or nearly dichotomously branched, the first branches growing 1-pinnate pinnae from bothsides of branch.

18a. Whole plants including indusia covered with hairs------------16. A. pubescens

18b. Plants covered with hairs on costae of every time and stalks, glabrous on pinnal surfaces and indusia-----------------------------------17. A. flabellulatum

15b. Fronds 2-4 pinnately branced.

19a. Pinnules covered with loose deep-brown appressed neddle-like long setae on under surfaces, or brown hispidulous on stipes, braches and stalks.

20a. Stpes, costae and stalks brown hispidulous----------------------18. A. induratum

20b. Pinnules covered with sparse deep-brown and appressed neddle-like long setae-------------------------------------------------------------------19. A. diaphanum

19b.Uunder surfaces of pinnules, stipes, all branches and stalks all glabrous.

21a. Laminae finely divided, ultimate pinnules ca.1 cm in long and wide, upper margins undivided, flabellate, ovate or obtriangular, bases cuneate.

22a. Pinnules with fine and sharp dense teeth at upper margins, laminae thin herbaceous or papyraceous.

23a. Plants small, reach 10 cm tall, 2- pinnate; indusia rectangular, truncate at upper margins, long nearly equal pinnule in wide---------- ------------------------------------------------------------20. A. fengianum

23b. Plants much big, supra 15 cm tall, usually 3-pinnate; indusia rounded, round-renifome or oblong.

24a. Stipes densely covered with brownish, multi-cell long setae.

(left marks and rouch feeling after fallen) on bases------------------------------------------------21. A. bonatianum

24b. Stipes glabrous on bases.

25a. Rachise, Costae of every time and joints positions of stalks all covered with brown, multi-cell articular villoses, pinnules coriaceous------------------------------22. A. davidii

25b. Rachises, costae of every time and joint position of stalks without villose; pinnules herbaceous.

26a. Sori rounded or reniform, upper margins sinuses or curved.

27a. Indusia rounded, upper margins sinuses, veins of pinnule distictly raised, green on under surfaces-----------------23. A. venustum

27b. Indusia reniform, upper margins curved, veins of pinnule indistict, glaucous on under surfaces------------------24. A. tibeticum

26b. Indusia long-shape or round-reniform, truncate or slightly curved at upper margins.

28a. Pinnules with long and sharp serrations at uppermargins-----------------25. A. fimbriatum

28b. Pinnules with short and obtuse serrations at upper margines------------26. A. breviserratum

22b. Pinnules entire at upper margines or sterile pinnules and fertile pinnules in sterile parts with triangular blunt theeth or undulately crenate-raised at upper margines; pinnae herbaceous.

29a. Pinnules with distinct thick triangular serrations at upper margines-------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------27. A. monochlamys

29b. Pinnules entire or undulate crenatures at upper margines.

30a. Pinnules with undulate crenations at upper margines; per pinnule mostly with one sorus------------------------------------------------28. A. erythrochlamys

30b. Pinnules entire, per pinnule mostly with 2 sori-------------29. A. roborowskii

21b. Laminae usually rough divided, pinnule much big, usually aymmertrically oblique flabellate

and upper margins divided in different degree .

31a. Segments of pinnules entire, at least indistictly undulate at apex---------30. A. edendulum

31b. Apex of pinnule segments erose-dentate-------------------------------31. A. capillus-veneris

1. Adiantum reniforme L. var. sinense Y. X. Lin, in Acta Phytotax. Sin. 18 (1): 102. f. 1: 1-5. 1980.

荷叶铁线蕨

Plants 5-20 cm tall. Rhizomes short and erect, covered with brown lanceolate scales and mutlti-cellular villoses. Fronds clustered, simple; stipes 3-14 cm. long, thick 0.5-1.5 mm in diam., deeply castaneous, densely covered with scales and villose at bases, up to ends of stipe covered with villoses but easy fallen after dry; laminae rounded or round-reniform, 2-6 cm in diam., on upper surfaces one deep or shallow sinus at joint position of stipes, biauricules sometime expanding and one on top anather, forming 1-3 concentric rigs around joint position of stipes, margins bluntly crenate but crenation indistinct on fertile laminae, under surfaces covered with loose brown multi-cellular villoses. Veins radiate from bases to all sides, multi-dichtomy, visible on bothsides. Fronds herb-greenish after dry, dark-brown in natural dying, papyraceous or hard-papyraceous. Indusia rounded or subrectangular, flatly straight at upper margins and spreading along margins, approched or with interval, deep-brown, menbranous, and persistent. Chromoseme 2n = 120.

Gregarious on rocks or in crevices; ca. 350 m.; Edemic Sichuan.

The plant used as medicines more than 100 years and called ‘荷叶金钱草 he ye jing quan cao”.in Sichuan, Whole plants are used as clear away heat and toxic materials, promte diuresis, for hepatitis of a type, infecting in urinary organ, urinary stone, mid-ear- infecting, ect., also calveted for view and admiring.

2. Adiantum meriesii Bak. in Gard. Chron. n. s. 16: 494. 1880.

小铁线蕨 xiao tie xian jue

Adiantum acrocarpum Christ in Bull. Acad. Geog. Bot. Mans. 1904; Adiantum nanum Ching.

Plants short and small, spreading on land, 2-3 cm tall. Rhizomes short and erect, covered with black-brown lanceolate scales. Fronds clustered; stipes fine as silk, ca. 1 cm long, deepl- castaneous; laminae ovate, ca 2 X 1 cm. 1-pinnate; pinnae 1-3 pairs, subopposite, obliquely spreading, rounded or subovato-roundded, upper margin rounded and with indistinct sinuses in middle, bases rounded or roundly cuneate, lateral margins entire or slightly undulate, 2.5-4 X 2.5-4 mm. stalks 1-2 mm long and artculate at ends, pinnae easy fallen from the ends of stalks when dry; terminal pinnae same shape with lateral ones. Veins simple, 4 forked venlets coming out from bases to margins, visible on bothsides. After dry fronds coriaceous, brownly green, polished on upper surfaces, slightly pale-blue greyish on under surfaces and glabrous; costae and stalks same colour with stipe, and polished. One soru at per pinna, indusia rounded, brown, upper margins flatly straight,slightly depressed and persistent.

Usually gregarious on wet cliffs of limestone; ca. 200 m.; Guangxi, Guizhou, Hubei and Sichuan. Specimen of type collected from Hubei ( badong).

3. Adiantum lianxianense Ching & Y. X. Lin in Acta Phytotax. Sin. 18 (1): 102-103. 1980.

粤铁线蕨 yue tie xian jue

Adiantum gravesii Ching.

Plants 5-7 cm tall. Rhizomes short and erect, covered with black lanceolate scales. Fronds clusterd; stipes 2-3 cm.long, fine as hairs, custaneous-black, slightly polished, smooth; laminae oblong, 3-5 X 1-1.5 cm, 1-imparipinnate; pinnae 3-4 pairs, opposite, obliquely spreading, distance 6-9 mm, elongate-ovate or narrowly flabellate 4-6 X 2.5-4 mm, upper margins subtruncate, with one sinus at middle, entire, slightly undulate, bases cuneate, both lateral sides entire and undulate, stalks 1.5-4 mm long and equal 1/3- 1/2 pinna in length, articulate at ends, when dry pinna easy fallen from joint of the end but stalk persistent; terminal pinnia same shape and slightly big with latreal ones. Veins simple, 4 forked veinlets coming out from bases, visible on both surfaces. Fronds after dry papyraceous, brownish-green, glabrous on both surfaces; costae and stalks same with stipe in colour, slightly polished. One sori on per pinna; indusia reniform or elliptic, brown, upper margins depressed, coriaceous and persistent.

Gregarius on wet land of calcareous rocks and calcic soils; edemic Guangdong (lianxian).

4. Adiantum gravesii Hance in Journ. Bot. 197. 1875.

白垩铁线蕨 bai e tie jue

Adiantum leveillei Christ. Aiantum gravesii Hance var. Laveillei Ching; Adianum greesii Ching.

Plants 4-14 cm tall. Rhizomes short and small, erect, covered with blck, sbulate lanceolate scales. Fronds clustered; stipes 2-6 cm long, slender, custeneous-black, polished and smooth; laminae oblong or ovate-lanceolate, 3-6 x 2-2.5 cm. 1-imparipinnate; pinna 2-4 pairs, alternate, obliquely up, distance 1-2 cm; pinnae broadly obovate or broad-ovately triangular, ca 1 x1 cm, apexes rounded, with one (rare 2) sharow sinus, entire, bases roundly cuneate or rotund, both lateral sides slightly undulate, stalks reached 3 mm long (ca equal 1/5 or shorter as pinna in length), articulate at end, pinnae after dry easy fallen from the end of stalks but stalks persistent; terminal pinnae same shape with lateral ones and lightly biger. Veins dichotomous franching, and reached to cartilagious margins, visible on both surfaces. Fronds when dry chartaceous, greyish-green on upper surfaces, glaucous on under surfaces, glabrous on both surfaces; costae and stalks same colour with stipes and polished. One (rare 2) sorus on per pinna; indusia renifom or lunate (rare rounded), upper margins depressed, brown, coriaceous and persistent.

Grearious on wet cliffs, in rock crevices or on chalky soils in caves; 620-1500 m.; Guangdong, Guanxi, Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan and Yunnan. Specimen of type collected from Guizhou [N. Vietnan].

This species is nearly similar to A. lianxianense Ching & Y. X. Lin, but the palnt is taller, biger and stronger, its pinnae biger also, broadly ovate or broad obovately triangular, gloucous on under surfsces and stalks shorter.

5. Adiantum juxtapositum Ching in Acta Phytotax. Sin. 6:312. 1957.

仙霞铁线蕨 xian xia tie jue

Plants 8-20 cm tall. Rhizomes short and erect, covered with black lanceolate scales at apexes. Fronds clustered; stipes 2-9 cm long, thick ca 1 mm in diam, custaneous, polished and smooth; laminae lanceolate, 4-11 X 1.5-3 cm, imparipinnate, pinnae 5-9 pairs, opposite, nearly alternate up to end, flatly spreading; pinnules rotund, broadly round-flabellate (rare obtriangular), 1 X 1.2-1.5 cm, upper margins rounded, slightly undulate, bases roundly cuneate (rare cuneate), stalks 2-3 mm long, articulate at end, after dry pinnules easy fallen from the end but stalks persistent, upper pinnules lightly small, obtrianglar or flabellate. Veins multi-dichotomous branching and reached to cartilaginous margins, visible on both surfaces. Frands when dry subcoriaceous, herb-greenish on upper surfaces, glaucous on under surfaces and glabrous; costae and stalks same colour with stipes, polished and smooth. Usually 3-4 (rare 1,2 or 6) sori on per pinnule; indusia rounded or roundly reniform (rare long-shape), upper margins flat and straight or slightly depressed, blacka and ciriaceous, entire or slightly undulate and persistent. Perines of spores with indistinct granulate ornamentations.

In limestone crevices; edemic N. Fujian (xian xia mountain).

6. Adiantum chienii Ching in Sinensia 1: 50. 1930.

北江铁线蕨 bei jiang tie xian jue

Plants usually 20-30 cm tall. Rhizomes short and erect, covered with castaneous-brown, linear scales at apexes. Fronds clustered; stipes 5-10 cm long, thick ca 1 mm in diam.castaneous-black, polished and smooth; laminae linear-lanceolate, 13-18 X 3-4 cm, opposite or subopposite, flatly spreading, distence ca 2 cm; pinnules 1.5 X 1.5 cm, obovately triangular, truncat at upper margins, entire, bases rounded or roundly cuneate; stalks 2-3 mm long, articulate at end, after dry pinnules fallen from joint of the end but stalks persistent, upper pinnules same shape with lateral ones but smaller. Veins multi-dichotomous branching, reached to cartilaginous margins, visible on both surfacec. Fronds after dry papyraceous, brownish, polished on upper surfaces, glaucousa and glabrous on under surfaces; costae and stalks same colour with stipes and polished. One soria ocationally 2 on per pinnule; indusia rectangular, horizontly attached at upper margins, reached to 1 cm long, straight, upper maegins flat and straight, brown, coriaceous, entire and persistent.

Edemic Guangdong (beijiang)

Outline of this species is similar to A. gravesii Hnce, but different in the plant much tall and big; indusia longly linear shape, horizontally attached at upper margin, nearly indepressed.

7. Adiantum caudatum L., Mant. 308. 1771.

鞭叶铁线蕨 bian ye tie xian jue

Adiantum caudatum L. var. angustilobatum R. Bonaparte; Adiantum lyratum Blanco; Adiantum balansae sensu Christ.

Plants 15-40 cm tall. Rhizomes short and erect, covered with deep-castaneous, lanceolate entire scalea. Fronds clustered; stipes ca. 6 cm long, castaneous, densely covered with dark-brown or brownish multi-cellular hirsuteness; laminae lanceolate, 15-30 X 2-4 cm, slightly angustate to bases, 1-pinnate; pinnae 28-32 pairs, alternate, or lower ones subopposite, flatly spreading or slightly obliquely spreading, distance 5-8 mm; lower pinnae gradually reduced, mid ones semi-dimiated, 1-2 X 0.6-1 cm, suboblong, upper and out margins deeply parted or parted into many narrow segments, lower margins nearly straight and entire, bases asymmatry, upper side truncat; segment linear, truncate on apex, entire on margins, upper part relobed into linear fine segments, fine-segments truncate or few dendate at apexes; upper pinnae same shape with lower ones, but gradually becoming into smaller and smaller up to top, nearly sessile. Veins multi-dichotomous-branching, visible on both surfaces. Fronds after dry papyraceous, brown-green or brownish-green, sparsely covered with multi-cellular hirsuteness and densely covered with pubescences on both surfaces; rachis same colour with stipe and sparsely covered with same hirteness, but partly fallen when old, apex usually prolonged into a whipe-like stolon and rooting, actting asexual reproduction. 5-12 sori on per pinna; indusia rounded or oblong, dark-brown, hairy, upper margins flat and straight, entire and persistent. Perispores with granulate ornamentaions. Chromome 2n = 90. One sporangium contained 32 spores (from Hainan materials).

On rocks or in crevices among rocks under forest or in mauntain valley; 100-1200 m; Fujian, Guangdon, Guangxi, Guizhou, Taiwan and Yunnan [ tropic and subtropic of Asia].

8. Adiantum malesianum Gathak in Bull. Bot. Surv. India 5: 78. 1963.

假鞭叶铁线蕨 jia bian ye tie xian jue

Adiantum caudatum Bedd.; Adiantum caudatum L. var. latilobatum R. Bonaparte; Adantum caudatum sensu Shieh.

Plants 15-40 cm tall. Rhizomes short and erect, densely covered with scales; the scales lanceolate, brown and margins dentate. Fronds clustered; stipes 5-20 cm long, brow when young, castaneous-black and partly fallen when old, bases covered with same brown scales and multi-cellular artculate hairs on whole stipes; laminae linear-lanceolate, 12-20 x ca 3 cm, attenuated up to, bases inangustate, 1-pinnate; pinnae ca 25 pairs, sessile, flatly spreading, alternate or subopposite, distance ca 1 cm, basel one pair unreduced, subroundly flabellate, more or less reflxed dowards, mid lateral pinnae dimidiated, 1-2 X 0.6-1 cm, upper and outer margins parted; segments 5-6 pairs, rectangular, depressed on apexes, lower and inner margines flatly straight; terminal pinnae subtriangular, upper margins rounded and parted. Veins multi-dichotomous forked, distinctly raised on upperside, obscure on underside. Fronds after dry chartaceous, brown green, sparsely covered with short setae on upper surfaces, densely covered with brown multi-cellular stff hairs and faced outer margins appressed short setae; rachis same colour with stipes and densely covered with same stiff hairs; apex of rachis generally prolongated into a whipe-like stolen and rooting and acting asexual reproduction. 5-12 sori on per pinna; indusia roundly reniform, upper margins flat and straight, densely covered with hairs on upper surfaces, brown, papyraceous, entire andpersistent.

On rocks or in crevices among rocks under thickets of slopes; 200-1400 m; Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Hunan, Sichuan and Yunnan [ India, Indonesia, Malasia, Myanmar, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Vietnam].

9. Adiantum sinicum Ching in Bull. Fan Mem. Biol. Bot. 1: 268. 1949.

苍山铁线蕨 cang shan tie xian jue

Plants 15-30 cm tall. Rhizomes short and erect, covered with subentire lanceolate scales. Frond clustered; stipes 4-12 cm long, castneous-black, densely covered with rufo-brown, multi-ceellular villoses; laminae lanceolate, sessile, 12-15 X 1.2-2.4 cm, apexes acuminate, 1-imparipinnate; pinnae ca 20-25 pairs, alternate, flatly spreading (basel one pair usually reflexed oblique down), basel one pair of pinna nearly unreduced and same shape with upper ones; leteral pinnae semi-dimidiate, 1-1.4 X 0.4-0.6 cm, lower margins straight and entire, inner margins mearly straight, bases asymmetry; segments truncat and obtuse at apexes, entire or undulately crenate; upper pinnae same shape with lower ones, but gredually becoming smaller and smaller up to end; terminal pinna small, obtriangular, outer margins rounded and 2-5 lobed, bases cuneate. Veins multi-dichotomous forked, visible on bothsides. Fronds after dry papyraceous, greenish or herb-green, covered with brown multi-cellular stiff hairs on under surfaces and loose short hairs on upper surfaces; costae same colour with stipes, polished, also with stiff hairs, apex ocationally prolonged into a whipe-like stolon and rooting and acting asexual reproduction. 2-3 sori on per pinna; indusia rectangular, upper magins flatly straight, hairy on uppersides, papyraceous, dark-brown, entire and persistent.

On soil by sides of limestones; ca. 1600 m. edemic Yunnan.

10. Adiantum soboliferum (Wall. List n. 74. 1822. Nom. nud. ) ex Hook. Sp. Fil. 2: 13. 1. 74 A. 1851.

翅柄铁线蕨 chi bing tie xian jue

Adiantum mettenii Kuhn; Adiantum lunulatum Burm. var. mettenii Bedd.; Adiantum caudatum Hook. & Bak.; Adiantum caudatum L. var. soboliferum Bedd.; Adiantum balansae Bak.;

Adiantum alatum Cop.; Adiantum dolabriforme C. Chr.; Adiantum lunulatum Ogata.

Plants ca. 30 cm tall. Rhizomes short and erect, covered with dark-brown lanceolate scales. Fronds clustered; stipes 9-16 cm long, custaneous-black, polished, with one brown menbraneous narrow wing on each side, bases covered with same scales, upwards glabrous; laminae lanceolate, 9-20 X 3.5- 5.5 cm, 1-pinnate; pinnae 5-10 pairs, alternate, flatly spreading or 1-2 lower pair slightly reflxed, stalks 2-4 mm long, articulate at end and aftre dry pinnae fallen from joints but stalks persistent, all pinnae on below middle same size, 2-3.3 X 0.9-1.4 cm, suboblong, dimidate, upper and outer margins obtuse and 4-6 lobed, lower and inner nargins nearly flat and straight, bases asymmatrical broad-cuneat; upper pinnae same shape and slightly smaller with lower ones; terminal pinnae flabellate, outer margin with 3-6 sinuses and bases cuneate. Veins multi-dichotomous forked, reached to catilaginous margins, visible on bothsides. Fronds after dry chartaceous, brownish green, glabrous on both surfaces; rachis and stlks same colour with stipes, polished, with brown menbranceous narrow wings on both sides, apex of rachis (usually strlie one) prolongated into whipe-like stolon and rooting and acting asexual reproduction. 3-7 sori attached at per pinna; indusia elliptic or reniform, upper margins flat and straight, dark-brown, chartaceous, entire and persistent. Perispores with granulate ornamentaions. Chromosome 2n = 120.

On wet soil under forest; Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Taiwan and N. Yunnan [ India, Indonesia, Nepal, Philippenes, Vietnan and tropic of N. African]

11. Adiantum philippense L., Sp. Pl. 2: 1094. 1753.

半月形铁线蕨 ban yue xing tie xian jue

Pteris lunulara Retz.; Adiantum lunatum Cav.; Adiantum arcuatum Sw.

Plants 15-50 cm. tall. Rhizomes short and erect, covered with dark-brown lanceolate scales. Fonds clustered; stipes 6-15 cm long, thick reached 2 mm in diam, custaneous and polished, bases same scaly, upwards glabrous; laminae lanceolate, 12-25 x 3-6.5 cm, 1-impari-pinnate; pinnae 8-12 pairs, alternate, obliquely spreading, all pinnae on below middle nearly same size, 2-4 x 1-2.3 cm, dimidiately lunate, or semi-roundly reniform, apexes obtuse or bended downwards, upper margins rounded, fertile pinnal subentire or with 2- 4 shallow sinuses, or slightly undulate; sterile pinnal margins undulately lobed, segments obtuse and serrulate at apexes, lower margins entire, truncate or slightly bended downwards, rarely broadly cuneate, lateral both sides asymmetry, stalks 1-1.5 cm.long, articulate, pinnae when old easy fallen from joint and stalks persistent, upper pinnae slightly smaller; terminal pinnae flabellate, slightly biger than lower lateral ones. Veins multi-dichomous forked, and reached to margins, visible on bothsides. Fronds after dry herbaceous, herb-green or brown-green, glabrous on both surfaces; costae and stalks same colour with stipes, polished and glabrous, costal apexes normally prolonged a whipe-like stolon and rooting, acting asexual reproduction. 2-6 sori attached at per pinna; indusia linear-oblong, upper margins flat and staight or slightly depressed, menbranaceous, dark-brown or brown-green, entire, and persistent; perispores with fine grnuate ornamentation.

Gregareous on shady and wet places or acid soil under ferest; 240-2000 m. Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan. Sichuan, Tiawan and Yunnan [ India, Indonesia. Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thiland, Vietnam and reached tropic of African and Oceania].

The plant growing in soil of Ph 4.5-5, it is used acidophilous in dicator plant.

12. Adiantum capillus-junonis Ruor. Distr. Crypt. Vasc. Ross. 49. 1845; adiantum contonense Hance.

团羽铁线蕨 tuan yu tie xian jue

Plants 8-15 cm tall. Rhizomes short and erect, covered with deep-brown lanceolate scales. Fronds clustered; stipes 2-6 cm long, and thick ca 0.5 cm in diam. slender as iron wrin, deep-castaneousa and polished, bases covered with same scales, smooth upwards; laminae lanceolate, 8-15 X 2.5- 3.5 cm, 1-imparis-pinnate; pinnae 4-8 pairs, lower pinnae opposite, suboppsite on upper ones, obliquely upwards, stalks ca 3 cm, articulate at end, pinnae after dry easy fallen from joint and stalke persistent; lower several paris of pinnae nearly same sizes, 1.1-1.6 X 1.5-2 cm, roundly flabellate or rotound, bases symmetry roundly cunneate or rounded, bilateral siders entire, upper margins rounded, fertile pinnae with 2-5 shallow sinuses, denticulate on sterile parts; sterile pinnae denticulate on upper margins; upper pinnae and terminal pinnae all same shape with lower ones but smaller. Veins multi-dichotomous-forked, reached to margins, visible on bothsides. Fronds after dry menbranous, herb-green, glabrous on both surfaces; costae and stalks castaneous and polished, apexes of rachis normally prolonged into a whipe-like stolon and rooting, acting asexual reproduction. 1-5 sori attached at per pinna; indusia rotund or reniform, upper margins flat and straight, papyraceous, brown and persistent. Perispores with grenulate ornamentation.

Gregareous on foot on wet limestone and in basel crevices of wall or shady and wet chalk soil; 300-2500 m; Gansu, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hebei, Henan, Shandong, Sichuan, Taiwan and Yunnan [Japon]. Specimen collected from Beijing.

13. Adiantum edworthii Hook. Sp. Fil. 2: 14, t. 81B, 1851.

普通铁线蕨 pu tong tie xian jue

Adiantum caudatum L. var. edgeworthii Bedd.; Adiantum guilelme Hance; Adiantum caudatum L. var. rhizophurum Wall. ex Clarke; Adiantum spencerianum Cop.;Adiantum edgeworthii Hook. var. specerianum (Cop.) Tagawa.

Plants 10-30 cm tall. Rhizomes short and erect, covered with black brown lanceolate scales. Fronds clustered; stipes 4-10 cm long and thick ca 1 mm in diam. bases cavered with scales, smooth upwards and polished; laminae linear-lanceolate, apexes acuminate, bases nearly atenuate, 6-23 X 2-3 cm, 1-pinnae; pinnae 10-30 pairs, opposite or alternate, flatly spreading, short stalked, aproached, if rachis prolonged a whipe –like stolon, upper pinnae gradually becomed far from each other, mid ones 1-1.5 X 0.5- 0.8 cm, dimidated, apexes acute or obtuse, bases asymmetry and acroscopic sides truncate, upper margins 2-5 lobed, lower and inner margines straight and entire; segments subrotund, entire or slightly undulate; basel several pairs of pinnae same shape with mid ones but samller, and slightly reflexed, upper pinnae same shape with mid ones but gradually becoming smller and smaller, terminal pinna subflabellate, upper margns parted, bases cuneate. Veins Multi-dichotomous forked, visible on both sides. Fronds after dry papyraceous, dark-brownish or brownish-green and glabrous on both durfaces; rachis castaneous, smooth, polished and apexes narmally prolonged a whipe-like stolon and rooting, acting asexual reproduction. 2-5 sori attached at per pinna and horizontally born at apexes of segments; indusia rounded or oblong, upper margins flat and straight, menbranous, entire and persistent. Perispores with granulate ornamentation.

On shady and wet palces or rocks; 700-2500 m.; Gansus, Hebei, Henan, Shandong, Sichuan, Taiwan, Xizang and Yunnan [N.India, Japon, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines and Vienan].

14. Adiantum pedatum L., Sp. Pl. 2: 1905. 1753.

掌叶铁线蕨 zhang ye tie xian jue

Adiantum boreale Presl; Adiantum pedatum L. var. kamischaticum Rupr.; Adiantum pedatum L. var. aleuticum Rupr.; Adiantum padatum L. var. glaucinum C.Chr.

Plants 40-60 cm tall. Rhizomes erect or decumbent, covered with dark-brown, broad-lanceolate scales. Fronds clustered or approached; stipes 20-40 cmlong, castaneous or brown, thick in base reaced to 3.5 mm in diam. covered with same scales, smooth upwards and polished; laminae broad-flabellate, reaced to 30 X 40 cm, dichotomously branching from end of stipes, bearing 4-6 lateral 1-pinnate, linear-lanceolate pinnae on each branching, mid pinna longist, reached to 28 cmlong , lateral ones toward outsides slightly shorter, 2.5-3.5 cm wide, 1-impari-pinnate; pinnulets 20-30 pairs, alternate, obliquely spreading, stalks 1-2.5 cm, mid pinnulets dimidiate, 2 x 0.6 cm, long-triangular, apexes obtuse, bases asymmetical cuneate, inner and lower margines straight and entire, apexes undulate or with blunt teeth, upper margins parted to half; segments squre-like, entire or depressed in middle or undulate crenate; basel pinnulets slightly smaller, flabellate or semi-rounded, with longer stalks; upper pinnulets same shape with mid ones and gradually becoming smaller and smaller, terminal pinnulets flabellate, parted in middle, bilateral sides lobed, seme size with or slightly biger than mid ones; pinnulete on each lateral pinnae same shape with pinnulets on mid pinnae. Veins multi-dichotomous-forked, reached to margin, visible on bothsides. Fronds after dry herbaceous, herb-green on upper surfaces, glaucous on under surfaces and glabrous on both surfaces; rachises and stalks castaneous-red, polished and smooth. 4-6 soria attached on per pinnulet, hoorizontally attached in shallow sinuses; indusia rotund or reniform, greyish green or dark-brown, menbranous, entire and persistent. Perispores with granulate ornamentation.

On places under ferest by strem sides; 350-3500 m.;Gansu, Hebei, Heilonjiang, Henan, Jilin, Liaoning, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Sichuan, Xizanh and Yunnan [ Japon, Korea, S. the Himalayas and N. American].

Whole plants are used as peomote diuresis and stop bleeding for dysuria, stanguria, toothache, menorrhagia; also used clear away lung-heat and relive cough for cough of lungs heat.

15. Adiantum myrosorum Bak. in Kew. Bull. 1898: 230. 1898.

灰背铁线蕨

Adiantum padatum L. var. myrisorum Christ; Adiantum padatum L. var. glaucianum Christ;

Adiantum padatum L. var. protrusum Christ.

This plant is similar to A. pedatum L. in form and size, but differences are laminae distinctly glaucousn under surface, pinnules densely arranged, long-triangular, upper margins lobed; segments with triangular acute serrations on fortile parts of margins and apexes; indusia round-reniform, spores with reticulate ornamemtation.

On places under dense ferest; 900- 2500 m.; Gansu, Guizhou, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Taiwan and Yunnan. [ N. Myanmar].

A beautiful plant and be culvated for view and admire.

16. Adiantum pubescens Schkuhr Kryp. Gew. 1:141, t. 116. 1809.

毛叶铁线蕨 mao ye tie xian jue

Adiantum hhispidulum Hook.; Adiantum pedatum Forst. Orod, 83. 1786. non L. 1753.

Plants ca 40 cm tall. Rhizomes short and erect, covered with purple-black lanceolate scales. Fronds clustered; stipes ca 20 cm long and thick ca 2 mm in diam. deep-castaneous, polished, densely covered with brownish villoses, parly fallen when old; laminae broad-ovately triangular, ca 18 x 10 cm, 2-3 pinnate dicotomously brancing, normally mid pinnae longist, ca 16 cm, linear-lanceolate, 1-impari-pinnate; ultimate pinnules ca 30 pairs, alternate, obliquely spreading, with short stalks, mid pinnules nearly seme size, ca 8 x 4-5 mm, rotund, inner and lower margines straight and entire, bases asymmetrical cuneate, outer margins rounded, upper margins roundly truncat, all with narrow and shallow sinuses, fertile segments truncat and entire on upper margins, and sterile parts undulate and dendate. Lower 1-2 pairs of pinnules slightly reduced, flabellate or flabellate-rectangular, upper pinnules same shape with mid ones and gradually becoming smaller and smaller, terminal pinnules obtriangular, slightly biger than lower lateral ones; every lateral pinnae same shape with mid ones and gradually becoming shorter and short towards bilateral sides. Veins multi-dichotomous-forked, visible on both sides. Fronds after dry papyracous, dark-brown or deeply olive-green, sparsely covered with brown pubescences on both surfaces; every costae and stalks castaneous, polished and densely covered with brown pubescences. 4-12 sori attached at sinuses on per pinuules; indusia rounded, upper margins deep-depressed or sinuate, coriaceous, dark-brown, covered with pubescences on upper surfaces, entire and persistent.Chromosome 2n = 360.

E Guangdong, E Taiwan nad S-E. Yunnan [ tropic and subtropi of Asia, African and Oceanian].

17. Adiantum flabellulatum L. Sp. Pl. 2: 1093. 1753.

扇叶铁线蕨 shan ye tie xian jue

Adianyum fuscum Retz.; Adiantum amoenum Wall.

Plants 20-45 cm tall. Rhizomes short and erect, densely covered with brown, polished sabute scales. Fronds clustered; stipes 10-30 cm long and thick ca 2.5 mm in diam. black-purple and polished, bases covered with scales, upwards smooth, one longitudinal grooved on upper side and inside brown short stiff hairy; laminae flabellate, 10-25 cm long, 2-3 asymentrical dichotomous braching, usually mid pinnae longer, bilateral ones same shape with mid ones but slightly shorter, reached to 5 cm long, mid pinnae linear-lanceolate, 6-15 X 1.5-2 cm, 1-impari-pinnate; pinnules 8-15 pairs, alternate, flatly spreading, stalks 1-2 mm long; pinnules belower middle nearly same size, 6-15 x 5-10 mm, dimidately semi-rounded (fertile ones), or obliquely square (steril ones), inner and lower margines straight and entire, bases broadly cuneate, or flabellately cuneate, outer and upper margines subrounded or roundly truncate, fertile parts shallowly sinuate, segments entire, sterile parts denticulate; upper pinnules same shape wth lower ones but slightly smaller, terminal pinnules obovate or flabellate, same size or slightly biger than lower lateral ones.Veins multi-dichtomous forked and reached to margins, obvious on both sides. Fronds after dry subcoriaceous, green or dark-brown, glabrous on both surfaces; evry costae and stalks purple-black, polisheda and densely covered with brow-red, short seta on upper sides, smooth on under sides. 2-5 sori attached at per pinnules, horizontally born at upper and outer margines of segments; indusia semi-rounded or oblong, upper margins flatly staight, coriaceous, dark-brown, entire and persistent. Spres with indistictly granulate ornamentation.Chromosome 2n = 116

On open acid red and yellow soil; 100-1100 m.; Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Hunan, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Taiwan, Yunnan and Zhejiang [ India, Japon, Malaysia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Vietnan].

Whole plants are used as medicines agaist clear away heat and toxic materials, relax tendons and activate blood, promote duresis, dissipate phlegm, subsidence of a swelling, stop bleeding and alliviate pain for trauma; apply for burn and scald, bite by poisonous snake , entipede and scabies beginning; also for diarrhea of breast pig, inflmmatory disease with redness of skin on pig and rinderpest.bisides it growed on pH 4.5-5 red and yellow soil and acid indicator plant.

18. Adiantum induratum Christ in Journ. De Bot. 1: 233, 165. 1908.

圆柄铁线蕨 yuan bing tie jue

Plants 15-40 cm tall. Rhizomes short and erect, densely covered with dark-brown narrow lanceolate scales. Fronds clustered; stipes 4-20 cm long, less than 1.5 mm in diam. brown when young, blck when old, polished, grooved on upper sides and inside brown stff hairy, when old becoming cylindraceous and mostly hairs fallen; laminae broadly ovate, 10-20 x 6-10 cm, 2-4 pinnately branching, 2-4 pairs of pinnae, alternate, obliquely spreading, stalked, basel one pair of pinna bigist, 4-9 x 2-4 cm, longly ovate, stalks 1-1.2 cm, 2-3-iapri-pinnate; 2 pairs of lateral pinnules, alternate, obliquely upwards, stalks ca 3 mm long; uliemate pinnules of fertile fronds 5-9 x 8-11 mm, subrounded, inner and lower margines straight and entire, bases broadly cuneate or truncate, outer and upper margines rounded or subround, entire or few sinuate; ultimate pinnules of sterile fronds slightly biger, 9-12 x 11-16 mm, oblong, bases broadly cuneate, entire, outer and upper margines undulate lobed, denticlate along margins; upper pinnules same shape with lower ultimate ones and slightly smaller; terminal pinnules flabellate, slightly biger than lower lateral ultimate ones, all pinnules with 2-4 mm stalks, artculate at ends and after dry easy fallen from joints but stalks persistent; from second pair of pinnae up to evry ones same shape with basel pair of pinnae and gradually becoming smaller and smaller. Veins multi-dichotomosly forked, reached to margins, visilble on both sides. Fronds after dry subcoriaceous, dark-browny yellow, dark-browny green, sometime slighyly glaucous on under surfaces, glabrous on both surfaces; rachis and costae of every time and stalks all dark-brown and polished, densely covered with brown-yellow pubescences on opper ssides, glabrouns on under sides. 4-6 (rare 1-2 ) sori on per ultimate pinnules, horizontally attached at upper margins; indusia reniform, short-linear or oblong, dark-brown, upper margins truncate or slightly depressed, entire, coriaceous and persistent.

On acid soil under forest by road sides or forest edges; 110-800 m.; Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan and Yunnan [Vietnan].

19. Adiantum diaphanum Bl. Enum. Pl. Jav. 215. 1828.

长尾铁线蕨 chang wei tie xian j

Adiantum setulosum J. Sm.; Adiantum heteromoephum Colp. ex Field; Adiantum affine Hook.

Plants 15-30 cm tall. Rhizomes short and erect, coverd with dark-brown, lanceolate scales. Frnds clustered; stipes 6-19 cm long, slender, castaneous and polished, bases sparsely covered with sclaes, smooth upwards, grooved on upper sides; laminae linear-lanceolate, 6-11 x 2-3 cm, 1-impari-pinnate, usually with 1-3 same shape and shorter lateral branches on bases of stipes; pinnae 8-16 pairs, alternate, obliquely spreading or subflatly spreading on lower ones, below mid pinnae same sizes 1—1.8 x 0.5-0.9 cm, dimidiately unequel .margin quadrangular or rhomboid, bases asymmetrical broadly cuneate, outer margins obtuse or truncate, upper margins truncate or rounded, all with round-sinuses, stalks less 2 mm long, upper pinnules same shape with lower ones but slightly smaller, terminal pinnules rhomboid, slightly biger than lower lateral ones. Veins flabellatly forked, reached to margins, visible on both dides. Fronds after dry menbranous, dark-brown or deep-olive-green, glabrous on upper surfaces, under surfaces slightly glaucous and with loose appressed brown, uncellular needle-like setae; rachises, costae and stalks all castaneous, polished and glabrous. Sori except attached along veinlet but also on mesophyll between veinlets, 2-10 on per pinnule; indusia rounded, upper marfins deeply sinuate and with uncellular brown needle-like sata,dark-brown, coriaceous and persistent. Sori with indistict granulate ornamentation. Chromosome 2n = 116, 232.

On wet places or rocks by stream sides under forest; 600-2200 m.; Fujiang, Guangdong, Hainan and Taiwan [Indonesa, Malaysia, Vietnan; Australia and New Zealand].

20. Adiantum fengianum Ching in Bull. Fan Mem. Inst. Biol. Bot. ser. 2. 1: 267. 1949.

冯氏铁线蕨 feng shi tie xian jue

Adiantum fimbriatum Christ.

Plants ca 10 cm tall. Rhizomes slender and decumbent, densely covered with dark-brown narrow lanceolate scales. Fronds approached; stipes 3-6 cm, slender as silk, deeply castaneous, polished, smooth above base; laminae narrowly ovate-lanceolate, 3-5 x 1-2 cm, apexes obtuse, 2-pinnate; pinnae 4-5 pairs, flatly spreading or obliquely spreading, pinnae of below middle nearly same sizes, 1-1.5 x ca. 0. 8 cm, narrowly ovate, impari-1-pinnate; lateral ultimate pinnulets 2-3 pieces, alternate, obliquely up, obtriangular, ca. 4 mm long, apexes of fertile ultimate pinnules truncate or with few sharp serrations on bilateral ancroscopic corners; apexes of sterile ultimate pinnules rounded, with parted and sharp serrtions on upper margins, bilateral margines straight and entire, bases symmetrically cuneate, with slender and short satlks, upper pinnules same shape with lower ones and becoming slightly smaller upwards, terminal pinnules same shape and sizes with lower ones. Veins multi-dichotomously foked and reached to margins, visible on both sides. Fronds after dry herbaceous, herb-green, glabrous on both surfaces; rachises, costae nd stalks all same colour wirh stipes, polished. One sorus on per pinnule and horizontally attached at upper margins of ultimate pinnules; indusia elongate, nearly same length with upper margins of ultimate pinnales in wide, glauous or dark-brown, upper margins truncate or slightly undulate, menbranous and persistent. Perispores with indistictly granulate ornamentation.

On wet rocks under ferest; ca 3400 m; edemic N. Yunnan (lijiang, yulong mauntain).

21. Adiantum bonatianum Brause in Hedwigia 54: 206, t. 4, f. F. K. 1914.

毛足铁线蕨 mao zu tie xian jue

Adiantum venusum auct. non Don 1825.

Plants 25-60 cm tall. Rhizomes slender and creeping, covered with black-lanceolate scales and brown, multi-cellular villoses. Fronds approached; stipes 10-20 cm long, black purple and polished, bases densely covered with same scales and villoses, but easy rubbed fallen when dry and leaved small raised with rough feeling on surfaces, upwards smooth; laminae broadly ovate, 20-40 x 19-25 cm, apexes acuminate, bases roundly cuneate, 3-4 pinnate; pinnae 5-7 pairs, alternate, obliquely spreading, stalks ca 1 cm long, basel 1-2 pairs of pinnae bigist, 8-18 x 4-9 cm, triangular, 2-3 pinnate; pinnules of 1-pinnate 5-6 pairs, alternate, obliquely spreading, stalked, basel ones biger, 3-5 X 2-3.5 cm, oblong, apexes obtuse, upwards gradually becoming smaller and smaller, ultimate pinnules 2-4 came out, alternate, flabellate, 5-9 X 4-11 mm, apexes rounded and densely with short and broad triangular serratins and with catilaginous usually crooked long awn points at tops, bilateral margines entire, bases symmetrical cuneate, stalks castaneous-red, ca 1 mm long, slender as hair, terminal pinnules same size or slightly biger with lower ones. Veins multi-dichotomous forked, reached to top of serration, visible on both sides. Fronds when dry thin-herbaceous, herb-reen, glabrous on both surfaces; rachis and every costae same colour with stipes, polished and glabrous. Sori 1-4 attached at per pinnules; indusia rounded or roundly reniform, upper margins deeply sinuate, dark-brown, menbranous, entire and persistent. Perispores with indistinct granulate ornamentation.

On slight acid damp soil under forest or in crevices of among rocks on forest edge; 1400- 2500 m.; Guizhou, Sichuan and Yunnan.

1a. Apical serrations of ultimate pinnules with cartilaginous, usually crooked long awns at tops----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------21a. var. bonatianum

1b. Apical serrations of ultimate actute and without cartilaginous awn at top---------------------------

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------21b. var. subaristatum

21a. Adiantum bonatianum var. bonatianum

毛足铁线蕨 (原变种) mao zu tie xian jue (yuan bian zhong)

Apical serration of ultimate pinnulets with cartilaginous, usually crooked long awn points at tops.

On slight acid damp soil under forest or in crevices of among rocks on forest edge; 1400-2500 m. Guizhou, Sichuan and Yunnan.

21b. Adiantum bonatum var. subaristatum Ching in Acta Phytotax. Sin. 6: 338. 1957.

Adiantum pseudobonatianum Ching.

Apical serrations of ultimate pinnulets acute without cartilaginous awn point at tops.

On rocks under forest; ca 1450 m. edemic Sichuan.

22. Adiantum davidii Franch. in Nouv. Arch. Mus. Paris Ser. 2. 10: 112. 1887.

白背铁线蕨 bai bei tie xian jue

Adiantum aristatum Christ; Adiantum davadii var. aristatum C. Chri.; Adiantum venustum sensu Christ; Adiantum monochalamys sensu C. Chr.; Adiantum prattii Bak.; Adiantum davidii Franch. var. latedeltoideum (Christ) Ching.

Plants 20-30 cm tall. rhizomes slender and creeping, covered with deeply dark-brown, polished lanceolate scales. Fronds remoth; stipes 10-20 cm long, deeply castanous and with same scales on bases, upwards amooth and polished; laminae triangularly ovate, 10-15 x 6-10 cm, apexes acuminate, 3-pinnat; pinnae 3-5 pairs, altimate, obliquely spreading, stalks1-4 mm long, basel one pair bigest, 5-7 x 3-4 cm, longly triangular, bipinnate; pinnules 4-5 pairs, altimate, obliquely spreading, with short stalks, upwards gradually becoming smaller and smaller, base one pair 1.5-2 X 1-1.4 cm, elliptic, apexes obtuse; ultimate pinnules 1-4 pairs, altimate, approched and slightly covered with each other, flabellate, 4-7 x 4-7 mm, apexes rounded, with short and broad dense serrations and with cartilaginous short awn point at tops, bilateral margines eitire, bases cuneate, with slender castaneous short stalks; terminal ultimate pinnules same shape with lower lateral ones; from second pair of pinnae up to all same shape with basel one and gradually becoming smaller and smaller. Veins multi-dichotomous forked, reached to apexes of serrations, visible on both sides. Fronds after dry hard herbaceous, herb-green on upper surfaces, on under surfaces grey-green or glaucous and glabrous on both surfaces; Rachises, costae and stalks all same colour with stipes, polished, smooth, but with brown multi-cellular, articulate hairs on attached places, one rare 2 sori on per ultimate pinnule, horizontally attached at apical sinuses of pinnules; indusia reniform or roundly reniform, upper margins shallowly depressed, dark-brown, papyraceous, entire and persistent. Perspores with thick granulate ornamentations. Chromosome 2n = 240.

On rocks by stream sides; 1100-3400 m.; Gansu, Guizhou, Hebei, Henan, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Sichuan and Yunnan. Specimen of type collected from Shaanxi.

1a. Serration of ultimate pinnules with short cartilaginous awn points at tops------------------ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------22a. var. davidii

1b. Serration of ultimate pinnulets with very long cartilaginous awn points at tops-------------------

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------22b. var. longispinum

22a. var. davidii

白背铁线蕨 (原变种) bai bei tie xian jue (yuan bian zhon)

Serration of ultimate pinnulets short broad triangular and with short cartilaginous awn points at tops.

On rocks by stram sides; 1100-3400 m; Gansu, Guizhou, Hebei, Henan, Shaaxi, Shanxi, Sicuan and Yunnan.

22b. var. longispinum Ching in Acta Phytotax. Sin. 6: 333. 1957.

Serration of ultimate pinnules with very long cartilagineous awn points at tops.

Guizhou, Sichuan and Yunnan.

23. Adiantum venustum Don, Prod. Fl. Nepal. 17. 1825.

细叶铁线蕨 xi ye tie jue

Plants 25-50 cm tall. Rhizomes decumbent and thick ca. 2 mm in diam. densely covered with deeply brow lanceolate scales. Fronds remote; stipes 10-20 cm long and thick 1.8-2 mm in diam, castaneous-brown, bases covered with same scales, upwards smooth; laminae broadly ovate, 15-25 x 1-2 cm, apexes acuminate and 1-pinnate, 3-pinnate on lower part; ca. 6 pairs of pinnae, alternate, obliquely spreading, stalked, basel one pair bigest, 8-13 x 4-7 cm, ovate-elliptic, bipinnate; 1-pinnate-pinnules 4-5 pairs, alternate, obliquely up, stalkes, 1-pinnate, lower 1-2 pairs trimerous, upper ones simple; ultimate pinnules flabellate, 7-10 x 7-10 mm, base short cuneate, with short stalk, apex rounded and triangular denticulate. Veins multi-dichotomous foked, reached to serration, visible on both sides. Fronds after dry herbacous, herb-green or brown-green, glabrous on both surfaces; rachises, costae and stalks all same colour with stipes, polished, smooth, more or less zigzag. 1-2 (rare 3)sori on per ultimate pinnule, attached at round sinses; indusia rounded, upper margins deep sinses-like, brownish, menbranous, entire and persistent. Chromose 2n = 120.

In crevices of rocks mountain slope; 2000-2800 m.; Xizang [ Bhutan, India, N. Myanmar, and Sikkim].

1a. Ultimate pinnules with long sharp serrations on upper margin----------------23a. var. venustum

1b. Ultimate pinnulet with short and blunt serrations on upper margin-------23b. var. wuliangense

23A. Adiantum venustum var. venustum

细叶铁线蕨 ( 原变种) xi ye tie xian jue (yuan bian zhon)

Ultimate pinnules with long sharp serrations on upper margin.

In crevices of racks on moutain slopes; 2000-2800 m.; Xizang ( Bhutan, India, N. Myanmer and Sikkim).

23b. Adiantum venustum var. wuliagense Ching & Y. X. Lin in Acta Phytotax. Sin. 18 (1): 104. 1980.

钝齿铁线蕨 dun chi tie xian jue

Ultimate pinnules with short and blunt serrations on upper margin.

On dry places of mountain slope; 2400-2900 m; edemic Yunnan (jingdong, wuliangshan).

24. Adiantum tibeticum Ching in Acts Phytotax. Sin. 18 (1): 104. 1980.

西藏铁线蕨 xizang tie xian jue

Plaants ca 30 cm tall. Rhizomes slender and creeping and thick ca 1.5 mm in diam., densely covered with brown lanceolate scales. Fronds remote; erect; stipes ca 15 cm long, castaneous-brown, polished, above base smooth, terete, grooved on upper sides; laminae ovate, 10-16 X 5-7 cm, 3-pinnate, 1-pinnte on upper parts; pinnulets 4-5 pairs, alternate, obliquely up, with sort stalks; lower ones narrowly ovate, ca 6 x 2.8 cm, 2-pinnate, 1-pinnate-pinnules 3-4 pairs on lower pinnate apexes and with silk-like stalks, ultimate pinnules 4-5 pieces on per pinnule, flabellate; fertile ultimate pinnules usually 7-11 (13) x 7-13 mm, base cuneate, with silk-like short stalks, apexes rounded, obliquely shape to irregular shape, with triangularly roundly sharp teeth; terminal ultimate pinnules same shape and slightly biger with lower lateral ones, short stalked. Veins multi-dichotomous forked, obscure. Fronds after dry thin-herbaceous, herb-greenish on upper surfaces, on under surfaces glaucous, glabrous on both surfaces; rachises, costae and stalks all same colour with stipes, zigzag, polished and smooth. 1-2 (individual 4 )sori on per ultimate pinnule; indusia roundly reniform or longly reniform, a big depression on upper margins, brownish, menbranous, entire and persistent.

On places by road sides under forest; 2800- 3200 m.; endemic S.- E. Xizang ( jilong).

25. Adiantum fimbriatum Christ in Soc. Bot. France 52: Mem. 1: 62. 1905.

长盖铁线蕨 chang gai tie jue

Adiantum venustum Don ver. smithanum C. Chr.; Adiantum smithanum (C. Chr.) Ching;

Plants normally 25-35 cm tall. Rhizomes slender and creeping, densely covered with brown, polished and ovete-lanceolate scales. Fronds scattered; stipes 10-20 cm long, red-castanous, bases covered with same scales with rhizome, smooth upwards and polished; laminae ovate-triangular, 15-25 x 10-20 cm, apexes obtuse, 3-4 pinnte; pinnae 3-7 pairs, altimate, obliquely up, stalks ca. 1 cm long, besel one pair of pinnae bigest, 8-10 x 4-8 cm, ovate-triangular, apexes obtuse; 1-pinnately pinnae 4-5 pairs, altimate, obliquely up, stalks short, upwards gradually becoming smaller and smaller, basel one pair biger, 3.5-5 X 1.5-3 cm, longly ovate-brod-rounded, apex obtuse,; lower pinnae simply bipinnate, upper pinnae impari-1-pinnate; ultimate pinnules 3-5 pairs, stalks short, obovate or subnarrowly flabellate, 6-7 X 6-7 mm or longer than wide, apexes rounded or more or less obliquely shape, densely with small triangular long and shrp teeth and no awn at top, bilateral sides.entire, bases cuneate, symmentry or slightly obliquel, upwards every pair of pinnules same shape basel ones but gradually becoming smaller and smaller. Veins flabellately forked and reached to top of serrations of pinnules, visible on both sodes. Fronds after dry thin herbaceous, greenish or grey-green, glabrous on both surfaces; rachises, costae and stalks all same colour with stipes, polished, smooth and zigzag. (1) 2-3 sori on per ultimate pinnule; indusia rectangular ,reniform, rounded or roundly reniform, upper margins more flat and straight, less slightly depressed,brownish, menbranous, entire and persistent. Perispores with indistinctly ganulate ornamentations.

On rocks or in crevices among rocks under forest by stream sides; 2700-3600 m.; Guansu, Hebei, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan.

This species was named by Christ on the basis of a mixed specimen from Yunnan in 1905, it contained A. fengianum Ching and A. fimbriatum Christ, the late one was a young plant without sporangium. 1927 C. Christensen described and published A. venustum Don var. smithianum according to Sichuan’ specimen and promoted a species ( A. smithanum ) by Ching 1957. Through studied they both (A. smithianum and A. fimbriatum ) are very similar, so A. smithianum are merged into A. fimbriatum.

1a. Plants 25-35 cm tall, usually 2-3 sori on per ultimate pinnule----------------25a. var. fimbriatum

1b. Plants 10-20 cm tall, normally 3-4 sori on per ultimate pinnule--------------25b. var. shensiense

24A. Adiantum fimbiatum Christ var. fimbriatum

长盖铁线蕨 ( 原变种 ) chang gai tie xian zhon ( yuan bian zhon)

Plants 25-35 cm tall, usually 2-3 sori on per ultimate pinnule.

On rocks or in crevices among rocks under forest by stream sides; 2700-3600 m.; Guansu, Hebei, Shaanxi, Sichuan and Yunnan.

24B. Adiantum fimbriatum var. shensiense (Ching) Ching & Y. X. Lin, Fl. Republ. Popul. Sin. 3 (1): 207. 1990.

陕西铁线蕨 shan xi tie xian jue

Adiantum smithianum C. Chr. var. shensiense Ching in Acta Phytotax. Sin. 6: 336. 1957.

Plants 10-20 cm tall, normally 3-4 ( rear 1,2 or 5) on per ultimate pinnule.

On racks or in crevices among rocks under forest by stream sides; 2700-3600 m.; Hebei, Shaanxi. Shanxi, Sichuan and W. Yunnan. Specimen of type collected from qin ling moutain.

26. Adiantum breviserratum (Ching) Ching & Y. X. Lin in Acta Phytotax. Sin. 18 (1): 104. 1980.

圆齿铁线蕨 yuan chi tie xian jue

Adiantum venustum Don var. breviserratum Ching in I.c. 6: 96. 335. 1957.

Plants 20-30 m tall. Rhizomes creeping, densely covered with brown lanceolate scales. Fronds tufted or approached; stipes 10-20 cm long, castaneous-brown and polished, bases with same scales with rhizome, upwards smooth; laminae subovte-trianangular, ca 15 x 10 cm, aepxes acuminate, 3-4 pinnate; pinnae 5-6 pairs, alternate, obliquely up, stalks 2-6 mm long, lower one pair of pinnae bigest, ovate or subovate-triangular, 7-9 x 2.5-4 cm, apexes obtuse, stalks short; 1-pinnaete-pinnae 4-5 pairs, alternate, obliquely up, basel a pair biger, 2.5-3.5 x ca 1.5 cm, broadly ovate, apexes obtuse, lower pinnae simple bipinnate, upper pinnae impari-1-pinnate; ultimate pinnules obovate or narrow-flabellate, 3-6 x 3-6 mm, upper margins rounded and crenate, bilateral sides entire, bases cuneate, stalks silk-like; upwards every pairs of pinnae gradually becoming smaller and smaller, usually terminal pinnules smallest and same shape with lower ones. Veins multi-dichotomous forked, reached to teeth of upper margins of pinnules, visible on both sides. Fronds after dry thin herbaceous, greyish-green, glabrous on both surfaces. One sorum on per ultimate pinnule, horizontaly attached at upper margins of ultimate pinnules; indusia subrounded or rectangular, upper margins flat and straight, brownish, menbranous, entire and persistent.

On limestones; 2380-3500 m; Xizang and N.Yunnan. Specimen of type collected from Yunnan ( zhen kang).

27. Adiantum monochlamys Eaton in Proc. Amer. Acad. 4: 110. 1858.

单盖铁线蕨 dan gai tie xian jue

Adiantum venustum Don var. monochlamys Keys; Adiantum monochlamys Eaton var. plurisorum Christ; Adiantum veitchii Hance; Adiantum aethiopicum Thunb.

Plants 25-55 cm tall. Rhizomes long and creeping, densely covered with castneous-blck, polished elongate lanceolate scales. Fronds approached or scattered; stipes 15-28 cm long, castneous-black or castaneous and polished, bases covered same scales with rhizome, smooth upwards; laminae elongate ovate-triangular, 20-30 x 4-10 cm, bases broadly cuneate, apexes acuminate and 1-pinnate, below ones 3-pinnate; pinnae 6-8 pairs, altimate, obliquely up, stalks 1-1.5 cm long, basel one pair of pinnae bigest, 4-8 x 3-4.5 cm, triangular-ovate, simple impari-bipinnate; 1-pinnate pinnae 2-3 pairs, altimate, obliquely up, every pair with 3-5 pairs of ultimate pinnules; ultimate pinnules elongate obtriangular, 6-10 x 5-8 mm, bases cuneate, apexes roundly truncate; sterile ultimate pinnules with triangular sharp teeth, fertile ones deeply depressed at middle, both sides with triangular sharp teeth, bilateral margins straight and entire, stalks short and slender, cstaneous; terminal pinnules same shape and size with lateral ones, but stalks longer; upwards every pairs of pinnae same shapes with basel pair and slightly becoming smaller and smaller. Veins multi-dichotomous forked, reached to ends of teeth of pinnules, visible on both sides. Fronds after dry herbaceous, grayish green on under surfaces, glabrous on both surfaces; rachises, costae and stalks all same colour with stipes, polished, zigzag and smooth. One ( ocationally 2) sori on per pinnule, horizontelly attached at sinuses on upper margins of pinnules; indusia reniform, upper margins deeply sinuated, thin papyraceous, red-dark-brown, entire or slightly undulate, persistent. Chromose 2n = 116.

On mountain lands under forest; ca. 800 m; Guizhou, Sichuan, Taiwan and Zhejiang [Japon and S. korea].

28. Adiantum erythrochlamys Diels in Engl. Bot. Jahrb. 29: 206. 1900.

肾盖铁线蕨 shen gai tie xian jue

Adiantum roborowskii Maxino. var. robustum Christ.

Plants 12-35 cm, tall. Rhizomes short and creeping or ascending, densely covered with csdtaneous-blck, polished elongate lanceolate scales. Fronds clustered or approched; stipes 5-22 cm, castaneous and polished, bases densely covered same scales with rhizome, upwards smooth; laminae lonceolately triangular, 6-22 x 4-8 cm, apexes acuminate, bases cuneate, 3-pinnate; pinnae 4-7 pairs, alternate, petioled, basel one pair slightly biger, 2.5-4 x ca 2 cm, longly ovate, bipinnate below middle and with 2 pairs of pinnules, alternate, obliquel up, 2-3 pieces comening out and; ultimate pinnules narrowly flabellate or obovate, 5-14 x 4-10 mm, bases narrowly cuneate, sterile pinnules rounded and undulatly crenate on upper margins; fertile pinnules with wide and deep sinus on middle, bilateral sides undulatly crenate, outer and inner margins entire, bilateral sides symmetry, stalks slender and ca l mm long, pinnae on upper part impair 1-pinnate and with 3-4 pairs of pinnules, alternate, obliquely up, same shape and size with ultimate pinnules; from second pair up to all pinnae same shapes with basel one pair and becoming slightly smaller. Veins multi-dichotomous forked, reached to margins, visible on both surfaces. Fronds after dry papyraceous, yellow- green or dark brown-green, glabrous on both surfaces; rachises, costae and stalks all same colour with stipes, polished and smooth. One (few 2 ) sori horizotaly attached at sinuses of upper margins of per ultimate pinnule; indusia rounded or round-reniform, upper margins deeply sinuate, dark-brown, subcoriaceous, entire and persistent. Perispores with granuate ornamentations.

On rocks or in crevices among rocks under forest by stream sides; 600-3500 m.; Guizhou, Hubei, Sichuan and Xizang.

29. Adiantum roborowskii Maxim. in Mel. Biol. 11: 867. 1883.

陇南铁线蕨 long nan tie xian jue

Plants 9-25 (rare reached to above 35 ) cm tall. Rhizomes short and erect or ascending, densely covered with dark-brown lanceolate scales. Fronds clustered or approached; stipes 4-20 cm, rounded, red-castaneous and polished, bases covered same scales with rhizome, smooth upwards; laminae lanceolate or ovately elliptic, 5-18 x 2-6 cm, apexes acuminate, simply 3-pinnate on lower part, on upper part impari-1-pinnate; pinnae 3-6 pairs, alternate, obliquely up, with 3-6 mm stalks, basel one pair slightly biger, 1.5-1.8 x 1.2- 1.4 cm, ovately triangular, apexes obtuse, bases roundly cuneate, 2-pinnate; pinnules 1-2 pairs, alternate, obliauely up, basel a pair (or acroscopic one piece only) divided; ultimate pinnules subtriangular or narrowly blabelllate, bases broadly cuneate, 5-9 x 4-7 mm, sterile upper margines rounded and slightly undulatly projection; upper margines of fertile pinnules entire and with 1-2 deep sinuses on middle, wirh slender red-castaneous short stalks; the second pair of pinnae same shape but smaller with basel one pair; upper pinnae 1-pinnate and same shape and size with lower ultimate pinnules. Veins multi-dichotomous-foked, nearly reached to margins, visible on both sides. Fronds after dry grey-green, papyraceous or near hard papyraceous, glabrous on both surfaces; rachises, castae and stalks all red-castaneous, polished and smooth. !-2 sori on per ultimate pinnule, attached at deep sinuses of upper margins; indusia rounded or roundly reniform, upper margins deeply sinuate, dark-brown, subcoriaceous, entire and persistent.

In crevices among rocks under wet forest or on cliff or rocks by ditches sides; 1000-2000 m.; Gansu, Guizhou, Qinghai,Shaaxi and Sichuan. Specimen of type collected from Qinghai.

1a. Ultimate pinnules triangular or obovate or brodly ovate.

2a. Stipes 4-20 cm long. laminae 5-18 cm long, ultimate pinnules narrowly flabellate-------------------------------------------------------------------------29a. var. roborowskii

2b. Stipes 2-8 cm long, laminae 2-7 cm long, ultimate pinnules triangular or broadly ovate-----------------------------------------------------------------------------29b. var. taiwananum

1b. Ultimate pinnules nearly roundly flabellate, bases roundly cuneate-----------------29c. vqr. faber

29a. Adiantum roborowskii Maxim. var. roborowskii

陇南铁线厥 (原变种) long nan tie xian jue (yuan bian zhon)

Stipes 4-20 cm long, lmanae 5-18 cm long, ultimate pinnules narrowly flabellate.

In crevices among rocks under wet forest or on cliff or rocks by ditches sides; 1000-2000 m. Gansu, Guizhou, Qinghai, Shaanxi and Sichuan.

29b. Adiantum roborowskii Maxim. var. taiwananum (Tagawa) Shieh in Journ. Chin. For. 2 (1): 167. 1968.

台湾高山铁线蕨 tai wan gao shan tie jue

Adiantum taiwanianum Tagawa in Acta Phytotax. Geobot. 4: 93. 1975.

Stipes 2-8 cm long, laminae 2-7 cm long, ultimate pinnules triangular or broadly ovate.

Endemic in M and S. Taiwan.

29c. Adiantum roborowskii Maxim. var. faber (Bak.) Y. X. Lin, Fl. Reipubl. Popul. Sin. 3 (2) 212. 1990.

峨眉铁线蕨 e mei tie jue

Adiantum faber Bak. in Journ. Bot. 225. 1899.

Ultimate pinnules nearly roundly flabellate, bases roundly cuneate.

On damp rocks; 1250-3000 m.; Hubei and Sichuan.

30. Adiantum edentulum Christ in Bull. Soc. Bot, France 52: Mem. 1: 63. 1905.

月芽铁线蕨 yue ya tie xian jue

Adiantum delavayi Christ ; Adiantum veneris L. var. sinuatum Christ.

Plants 15-30 (50) cm tall. Rhizomes short and erect or ascending, densely covered with brown lanceolate scales; Fronds clustered; stipes 8-15 cm long, castaneous-black and polished, bases covered same scales with rhizome, upwards smooth; laminae ovate or ovate-lanceolate, 10-15 x 4.5-8 cm, apexes acute, bases cuneate, usually 2-3-pinnate; pinnae 4-5 pairs, alternate, obliquely up, stalked, basel one pair bigest, 2.5 –5.5 x 2-3 cm, longly ovate or ovate-longly triangular, impair-1-pinnate or bipinnate; pinnules 4-5 pairs, alternate, obliquely up; ultimate pinnules asymmetry flabellate, 5-15 x 8-14 mm, alternate, obliquely up, upper margins undulate rounded, 1-3 lobete or semi-lobete (a parted in middle), sterile segments entire or slightly undulate, fertile segments with shallow broad sinuses on upper margins, bilateral sides entire, bases shortly cuneate, stalks 0.5-2 mm long, slender as silk; terminal pinnules same shape with lower lateral pinnules but slightly biger; from second pair up to all pinnae same shape and becoming smaller and smaller. Veins multi-dichotomous forked, reached to margins, visible on both sides. Fronds after dry papyraceous, grey green on under surface, glabrous on both surfaces; rachises, costae and stalks all same colour with stipes, polished, smooth and zigzag. Sori 3-4 on per pinnule, horizontelly attached at brodly sinuses on upper margins of segments; indusia long-like or roundly reniform, brown, upper margins flat and straight or depressed, menbranous, entire and persistent. Perispores wit reticulate ornamentation.

On rocks under forest or rocks covered with bryophyte in ditches or on shady and wet cliffs; 1000-3600 m.; Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan, Shaanxi, Sichuan and Yunnan.

1a. Plants smaller, normally less than 30 cm tall, ultimate pinnules smaller, wider than long---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------30a. f. edentulun

1b. Plants biger, over 30 cm tall, ultimate pinnules wide and long same sizes.

2a. Sori moustly 4 or more on per ultimate pinnule---------------------------------30b. f. muticum

2b. Sori usually 3 or less on per ultimate pinnule-----------------------------------30c. f. refractum

30a. Adiantum edentulutum Christ f. edentulum

月芽铁线蕨 (原变形) yue ya tie xian jue (yuan bian xin)

Plants smaller, normally less than 30 cm tall, ultimate pinnules wider than long.

On rocks under forest or rocks covered with bryophte in ditches or on shady and wet cliffs; 1000-3600 m; Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan, Shaaxi, Sichuan and Yunnan.

30b. Adiantum edentulum Christ f. muticum (Ching) Y. X. Lin, Fl. Republ. Popul. Sin. 3 (1): 214. 1990.

鹤庆铁线蕨 he qin tie xian jue

Adiantum muticum Ching in Bull. Fan Mem. Inst. Biol. Bot. ser. 2, 1: 268. 1949.

Plants biger over 30 cm tall, ultimate pinnule’ wide same size with long, sori moustly 4 or more on per ultimate pinnule.

On pland by ditches sides under mixed forest; endemic Yunnan (鹤庆).

3c. Adiantum edentulum Christ f. refractum Y. X. Lin, Fl. Reipubl. Popul. Sin. 3 (1): 214. 1990.

蜀铁线蕨 shu tie jue

Adiantum refractum Christ in Bull. Acad. Geogr. Bot. Mans 224. 1902; Adiantum submarginatum Christ; Adiantum capillus-veneris sensu Diels.

Plants reached to 50 cm tall, ultimate pinnulel wide nearly same long in sizes, sori moustly 3 on per ultimate pinnule.

On wet rocks covered with bryophyte; 1100-2400 m. endemic Sichuan (emei mountain).

31. Adiantum capillus-veneris L. Sp. Pl. 2: 1096. 1753.

铁线蕨 tie xian jue

Adiantum submarginatum Christ; Adiantum michelii Christ.

Plants 15-40 cm tall. Rhizomes slender and creeping, densely covered with brown lanceolate scales. Fronds remote or approached; stipes 5-20 cm long, slender, castaneous-blck and polished, bases covered same scales with rhizome, upwards smooth; laminae ovate-triangular, 10-25 x 8-16 cm, apexes acute, bases cuneate, below mid pinnae moustly bipinnate, above mid pinnae 1-pinnate; pinnae 3-5 pairs, alternate, obliquely up, stalks reached to1.5 cm long; basel one pair of pinnae biger, 4.5-9 x 2.5-4 cm, elongatly ovate, apexes obtuse, 1 (rare 2)-imparipinnate, lateral ultimate pinnules 2-4 pairs, alternate, obliquely uo, nearly same in sizes or basel one pair slightly biger a-or symmetrical obliquly flabellate or nearly qbliquely squre, 1.2-2 x 1-15 cm, upper margins rounded, 2-4 lobed or parted into twig-like segments; sterile segments obtuse and with broadly triangular serrations or eroses teeth at apexes; apexes of fertile segments truncate, straight or slightly depressed, entire or with eroses teeth on bisides, bilateral sides entire, bases cuneate, stalks slender, and 1-2 mm long, castaneous-black; terminal pinnules flabellate, bases narrowly cuneate, usually biger than lower lateral pinnules, stalks reached to1 cm long; from second pair up to all pinnae same shape with basel one and beconing smaller and smaller. Veins multi-dichotomous forked, reached to margins, visible on both sides. Fronds after dry thin herbaceous, herb-green or dark-brown-green,glabrous on both surfaces; rachises, costae and stalks all same colour with stipes, slightly zigzag. 3—10 sori on per pinnule, horizotally attached at upper margins of pinnules; longly reniform or roundo-reniform, upper margins flat and straight, yellowish-green, brown when old, menbranous, entir and persistent. Sperspores with thick granulate ornamentations.

On limestones by stream of running water or in bottom of limestone cave and on cliffs of dropping water; 100-2800 m; Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hebai, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Sichuan, Taiwan and Yunnan; also widely distributed in Afria, Ameirian, Europe, Oceania and other warm regins of Asia.

1a. Ultimat pinnules shallowly dividing on upper margins-----------------------1. f. capillus- veneris

1b. Ultimat pinnules deeply dividing into severl lobeds----------------------------------2. f. dissectum

1a. Adiantum capillus-veneris L.f. capilluds- veneris

铁线蕨 (原变形) tie xian jue (yuan bian xin)

Ultimat pinnules shalomly dividing on upper margins.

On limestones by stream of running water or in bottom of lonestone cave and cliffs of dropping water; 100-2800 m; Fujian,Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hebei, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Shaaxi, Shaxi, Sichuan, Tiwan and Yunnan; also widely distributed in Africa, Ameirican, Europe, Oceania and other warm regions of Asia.

The fern is a indicator of lime soil.

2b. Adiantum capillus-veneris f. dissectum (Mart. & Galeot.) Ching in Acta Phytotax. Sin. 6: 344.1957.

Adiantum tenerum Sw. var. dissectum Mart. & Galeot. Fil. Mex. 71. 1842.

条裂铁线蕨 tiao lie tie xian jue

Ultimat pinnules deeply dividing into several lobeds.

The habitat same with original form, 700-1500 m; Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hunan, Sichuan and Yunnan ( Japon and Vietnan).

Whole plants is used as medicine in clear away heat, promoting diuresis for strnguria with tuebid urine, lymph tuberculosis and stopping cough.