15. Ctenitis (C. Christensen) C. Christensen in Verdoorn et al., Man. Pteridol. 543. 1938.
Comb fern [Greek kteis, comb]
Robbin C. Moran
Dryopteris Adanson subg. Ctenitis C. Christensen in L. K. Rosenvinge, Biol. Arb. Tilegn. Eug. Warming, 79. 1911
Plants generally terrestrial. Stems erect to obliquely ascending, stolons absent. Leaves monomorphic, evergreen or dying back in winter. Petiole 2/3 to equaling length of blade, base not swollen; vascular bundles more than 3, arranged in an arc, ± round in cross section. Blade lanceolate to deltate, 1--4-pinnate-pinnatifid, gradually reduced distally to confluent, pinnatifid apex, herbaceous. Pinnae not articulate to rachis, segment margins nearly entire to crenulate, ciliate; proximal pinnae not reduced, sometimes basal pair much the longest, sessile to petiolulate, equilateral or inequilateral with basiscopic side more developed (pinnules noticeably longer); costae adaxially rounded or flat, not grooved; indument of linear to lanceolate scales and often multicellular glandular hairs abaxially, of multicellular reddish hairs adaxially. Veins free, simple or forked. Sori in 1 row between midrib and margin, round; indusia round-reniform, attached at narrow sinus, sometimes small or seemingly absent, persistent or caducous. Spores brownish, usually spiny, sometimes prominently cristate, rarely finely reticulate. x = 41.
Species ca. 100 (2 in the flora): nearly worldwide in the tropics.
