Description:
|
Plant with main stem climbing and winding to the right (dextrovolubile), up to 2 m x 1-1.5 mm diam., branched; lateral branches c. 12 x 4 cm, pinnate, oblong-lanceolate in outline, with lateral leaves spaced on the main axis and overlapping on the ultimate branches; ultimate ramifications about 2 x 7 cm (leaves included); rhizophores up to 30 cm long by 0.75 mm in diameter, streaked or buff when dry, glabrous, abruptly deflected; ventral rhizophores with a short papilla. . Leaves homomorphic on main stem, heteromorphic elsewhere. Main stem leaves c. 3 mm long, spaced 1 cm apart, ovate, apex tapering, base subulate, margin subentire, with two broad acute auricles at base; lateral leaves of the main branches unequal, the upper side semi-lanceolate, base rounded. Ultimate branches lateral leaves 3-3.5 x 1-1.5 cm, slightly falciform, apex mucronate-acruminate, unequal, margins with 1-3 rows of elongated cells, midrib raised on the upper side, not quite reaching the top; axillary leaves ovate, acute, denticulate, with or without short auricles; median leaves ovate-lanceolate, with a blade about 1-1.8 x 0.5-0.8 mm, denticulate, acuminate, long awned, the awn about half the length of the blade. Strobili solitary at the end of the final branches, usually about 1-4 cm long by 2-3 mm in diameter; sporophylls homomorphic (except those with megasporangia, which are slightly larger), ovate-deltoid, long-acuminate-awned, serrulate, articulated. |