翅轴蹄盖蕨 chi zhou ti gai jue

Athyrium latibasis Ching; A. mairei Rosenstock; A. neodelavayi Ching & H. S. Kung.

Rhizomes short, stout, erect, apex densely clothed with brown, linear-lanceolate, fibriform-tipped scales. Fronds caespitose; fertile fronds 35-65 cm; stipe blackish brown, upward stramineous, 15-30 cm, 2-3 mm in diam., base densely scaly, upward glabrate; lamina 2-pinnate, ovate-oblong or lanceolate, 25-35 × 14-25 cm at middle, abruptly narrowed to caudate apex; pinnae 16-18 pairs, lower pinnae subopposite, sessile, gradually shortened, reflexed, base slightly narrowed, middle pinnae spreading, upper pinnae ascending; pinnae linear-lanceolate, 8-13 × 1.2-1.5 cm, caudate or long acuminate, toothed at apex, base truncate, not narrowed, pinnate; pinnules 18-20 pairs, alternate, often approximate, spreading, free, basal pinnules slightly larger, usually ± overlaying rachis, subsquare, 5-7 × 4-6 mm, base inequilateral, truncate and slightly auriculate on acroscopic side, cuneate on basiscopic side, dentate at margin, apex obtuse, occasionally acute; veins slightly visible adaxially, visible abaxially, pinnate in pinnules, lateral veins ca. 5 pairs, very oblique, forked or simple (3-forked or pinnate in basal acroscopic veins). Lamina thinly papery when dried, greenish brown, ± with short glandular hairs on abaxial surface; rachis and stipe abaxially with brown lanceolate scales. Sori oblong or shortly linear, ca. 3 pairs per pinnule, inframedial; indusia brownish, oblong or shortly linear, thinly membranous, entire, persistent. Perispore surface without folds.

Wet areas in forests, among shrubs in valleys, forest margins; 600-2500 m. Chongqing, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hubei, Sichuan, Taiwan, Yunnan [India, Myanmar].

"Athyrium costale T. Moore var. polystichoides" (T. Moore, Index Fil. 180. 1860) belongs here but is a nomen nudum and was not therefore validly published (Melbourne Code, Art. 38.1(a)).