The Polystichum Homepage

Welcome to the website for the hollyferns, members of the fern genus Polystichum and allies.
This website is maintained for the use of hollyfern enthusiasts and scholars
throughout the world by Dave Barrington at the University of Vermont in the United States.

Polystichum Homepage

Portrait of the Genus

Taxonomy

Species List

Diversity Map

Interactive Keys

Phylogeny

Cytology (PDF)

Barrington Web Page
(with publications)

Morphological Characters

Morphological Analysis

Lab Protocols

Character Definitions for Neotropical Polystichum Database

  1. baPESCHU1: color at basal petiole-scale center—NBS Munsell color-chip numbers
  2. baPESCHU2: color at basal petiole-scale edge—NBS Munsell color-chip numbers
  3. baPESCHU3: boundary between basal petiole-scale center and edge—diffuse (0) or sharp (1)
  4. baPESCMG: basal petiole scales conform (0), marginate only at base (1), marginate throughout (2)
  5. baPESCSE1: cilia on basal petiole scales—absent (0), present, (1), abundant (2)
  6. baPESCSE2: cilia on basal petiole scales—short (0), long (1)
  7. baPESCSE3: cilia on basal petiole scales—narrow, weak (0); broad, robust (1)
  8. baPESCtw: basal petiole scales—flat (0), twisted (1)
  9. PRSCSH: pinna-rachis scale shape—character states are length-width ratios viz. 1,5,10,20,30,40
  10. PRSCHU: pinna-rachis scale color—NBS Munsell color-chip numbers
  11. PRSCSE: pinna-rachis scale cilia—absent (0), basal only (1), throughout (2)
  12. LALN: lamina length—metric
  13. LADS: lamina dissection—10 is 1-pinnate, 20 is 2-pinnate, 3 is 3-pinnate; entire is 0, crenate 3, pinnatifid 5, pinnatisect 8 (so 2ptpf is 25).
  14. LAtipSH: lamina tip shape—acute (0) acuminate (1) attenuate (2)
  15. BU: bulbil subapical on lamina—absent (0) present (1)
  16. baPIAB: lowest pinna length—metric in mm
  17. baPICD: lowest pinna basal acroscopic pinnule length—metric in mm
  18. baPIDE: lowest pinna basal basiscopic pinnule length—metric in mm
  19. baPIFG: lowest pinna second acroscopic pinnule length—metric in mm
  20. baPIGH: lowest pinna second basiscopic pinnule length—metric in mm
  21. baPIIJ: lowest pinna medial acroscopic pinnule length—metric in mm
  22. baPIJK lowest pinna medial basiscopic pinnule length—metric in mm
  23. 2ndPIAB: second pinna length—metric in mm
  24. mePIdis: distance between 2 adjacent central pinnae—metric in mm
  25. mePIAB: medial pinna length—metric in mm
  26. mePICD: medial pinna basal acroscopic pinnule length—metric in mm
  27. mePIDE: medial pinna basal basiscopic pinnule length—metric in mm
  28. mePIFG: medial pinna second acroscopic pinnule length—metric in mm
  29. mePIGH: medial pinna second basiscopic pinnule length—metric in mm
  30. mePIIJ: medial pinna medial acroscopic pinnule length—metric in mm
  31. mePIJK medial pinna medial acroscopic pinnule length—metric in mm:
  32. PU l:w: length-width ratio of medial pinnule on medial pinna
  33. PUrev: ultimate segments revolute: not (0), somewhat (1), very (2)
  34. PUauricle: ratio of ultimate-segment auricle to rest of width at base
  35. PUtip: shape of ultimate-segment tip: obtuse to round (0), acute (1), acuminate (2)
  36. #mePU: number of ultimate segments
  37. SOPO: sorus position—terminal (0), abaxial (1)
  38. TI: true-indusium diameter—metric in mm.

version of January 9, 2006

Please be in touch with me with your questions about and insights into the holly ferns -