栗柄篦齿蕨 li bing bi chi jue

Polypodium microrhizoma C. B. Clarke ex Baker in Hooker & Baker, Syn. Fil., ed. 2, 511. 1874; Goniophlebium fieldingianum (Kunze ex Mettenius) T. Moore; G. microrhizoma (C. B. Clarke ex Baker) Beddome; Polypodiodes microrhizoma (C. B. Clarke ex Baker) Ching; Polypodium fieldingianum Kunze ex Mettenius; P. microrhizoma var. xerophyticum Mehra; P. taliense Christ.

Rhizome long creeping, 2-3 mm in diam., densely covered with scales; scales dark brown, ovate-lanceolate, broad at base, peltate, margin denticulate, apex acuminate. Fronds remote. Stipe straw-colored at base, shiny and castaneous on lower side (as is rachis), 8-12 cm, slender, glabrous. Lamina deeply pinnatifid or pinnatisect at lower portion, lanceolate in outline, 20-30 × 5-8 cm, base slightly shortened, apex pinnatilobate-acuminate. Segments/pinnae 15-30 pairs, spreading, lanceolate, 4-5 cm × 6-8 mm, base connected by a narrow wing along rachis, distantly incised-serrate at margin, apex acute or obtuse; basal ones not or very slightly deflexed, slightly shorter than next above. Veins visible, without areoles on both sides of rachis, anastomosing to form 1 row of areoles on each side of costa, each containing a simple included veinlet. Lamina thinly papery or membranous, green, glabrous on both surfaces, rachis castaneous abaxially, straw-colored and grooved adaxially, glabrous, nearly wingless in lowest portion. Sori orbicular or oblong, terminal on included veinlets, in 1 row on each side of costa, medial, ± sunken.

Terrestrial in forests, epiphytic on tree trunks, or on rocky slopes; 2300-3300 m. Sichuan, Taiwan, Xizang, Yunnan [Bhutan, N India, N Myanmar, Nepal, N Thailand].

De Vol and Kuo (Fl. Taiwan 1: 202. 1975) treated material of Polypodiodes microrhizoma as Polypodium atkinsonii C. Christensen.