羽裂星蕨 yu lie xing jue

Polypodium insigne Blume, Enum. Pl. Javae 2: 127. 1828; Colysis dilatata (Wallich ex Beddome) J. Smith; C. insigne (Blume) J. Smith; Kaulinia dilatata (Wallich ex Beddome) B. K. Nayar & Kaur; K. hancockii (Baker) B. K. Nayar; K. insignis (Blume) X. C. Zhang; Microsorum dilatatum (Wallich ex Beddome) Sledge; M. hancockii (Baker) Ching; Pleopeltis dilatata Wallich ex Beddome; P. insignis (Blume) Beddome; Polypodium anceps (Christ) C. Christensen; P. dilatatum Wallich ex Hooker (1864), not Hofmann (1795); P. europhyllum C. Christensen; P. hancockii Baker; Selliguea anceps Christ.

Rhizome 2-11 mm in diam., dorsiventrally flattened or subcylindrical, not white waxy, closely attached to substrate. Scales pseudopeltate, apically densely set, otherwise sparsely set, appressed or distinctly spreading, ovate or narrowly ovate or triangular, (2-)2.5-7.5 × 0.5-2.5(-3) mm, margin entire to denticulate (occasionally with small triangular lobes), clathrate or subclathrate, central region glabrous. Fronds not or slightly dimorphic. Stipe 0-10 cm, terete or carinate, lamina decurrent to its base. Lamina simple or pinnatifid, simple lamina narrowly ovate to narrowly obovate, 2.5-65 × 0.5-6.5 cm, thinly herbaceous, base narrowly decrescent, stipe winged for a considerable part, margin entire, apex acute to acuminate. Lamina of dissected frond 8-110 × 3-55 cm, widest below middle to near middle, 0.5-5 cm wide between lobes at place of longest lobes, lobes 1-12(-14) on each side, longest lobes widest from base to ca. middle; apical lobe similar to upper lateral lobes or shorter to longer than upper lateral lobes. Veins prominent and distinct, smaller veins ± sunken and indistinct, variously anastomosing, free veinlets simple or once forked. Sori separate, mostly irregularly scattered, sometimes forming 2-8 irregular rows between veins or some connate, elongate along veinlets, orbicular or elongate, superficial or slightly sunken.

Usually epilithic, sometimes epiphytic, in primary and secondary forests, in or along streams or waterfalls, in undergrowth of shrubs, twice reported from caves, shaded, mossy, muddy, and wet places; 600-800 m. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Hunan, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Taiwan, Xizang, Yunnan [Bhutan, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia (Peninsular), Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam].

Sometimes the laminae of Microsorum insigne are simple, not lobed, and the stipes are terete to carinate; but there are no other corresponding morphology and distribution patterns supporting the separation of these plants as two species.