Taxonomic Revision of the Polypodiaceous Genera of India-Iv Polypodium Lineare Complex and Allied Species

The Asiatic genus Lepisorus (J. Smith) Ching consists of about 25 species, majority of which are known from the Sino-Himalayan region. The present paper deals with the taxonomy of Lepisorus species which belong to Polypodium lineare complex. Our studies have revealed that the Himalayan and South Indian material generally placed under P. lineare is a collection of large and variable types and this material has been sorted out into L. nudus (Hook.) Ching, L. amaurolepida(Sledge).

Bir & Trikha, L. bicolor Ching, L. pseudonudus Ching, L. angustus Ching, L. ussuriensis (Regel & Maack) Ching, L. contortus Ching and L. tkunbergianus (Kaulf.) Ching. Out of these L. ussuriensis, L. contortus and L. bicolor are new records from the Indian region. Several of these species are sympatric in distribution and are closely allied in the form of the laminae. These are separable mainly on the basis of the outline and structure of scales and spores.