Flora Zambesiaca
Keys
Back to Previous Key Back to SearchKey to Pteridophyta
| 1 | a | Leaves all narrow and simple, entire (usually small) with unbranched veins; the sporophylls either with a sporangium at the base or subtending a sporangium or with the sporangia borne within a cone-like structure go to 2 |
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| b | - Leaves usually broad, simple or dissected, the lamina with a branched vascular supply go to 6 |
| 2 | a | Sporangia borne in the axils of the sporophylls or on their bases go to 3 |
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| b | - Sporangia borne on peltate sporangiophores arranged in a cone-like structure; leaves reduced to a short toothed sheath about the nodes FZ account for Equisetaceae |
| 3 | a | Plants homosporous; leaves without ligules go to 4 |
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| b | - Plants heterosporous; leaves with ligules go to 5 |
| 4 | a | Sporangia 3-lobed; stems leafless except for minute much reduced sporophylls FZ account for Psilotaceae |
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| b | - Sporangia not lobed; stems with numerous leaves FZ account for Lycopodiaceae |
| 5 | a | Plants aquatic, wholly or partially submerged during the wet season, sedge-like; sporangia borne on the leaf bases; stem a short lobed rootstock FZ account for Isoetaceae |
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| b | - Plants not aquatic, often moss-like with elongated erect or creeping stems; sporangia borne in the axils of differentiated sporophylls FZ account for Selaginellaceae |
| 6 | a | Sporangia thick-walled, without an annulus; homosporous go to 7 |
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| b | - Sporangia thin-walled, with an annulus; homosporous or heterosporous Key to Filicales genera |
| 7 | a | Sporangia borne in 2 rows on a distinct slender fertile segment; sterile lamina entire (or lobed) FZ account for Ophioglossaceae |
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| b | - Sporangia fused in small groups on the dorsal surface on undifferentiated lamina segments FZ account for Marattiaceae |
