| General Information |
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| Distribution | A cosmopolitan genus of about 700 species.
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| Habitat | Forests and shrublands
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Habit
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Terrestrial, epiphytic, or epipetric. Rhizomes erect or short-creeping, rarely long-creeping.
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Leaves
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Fronds monomorphic or rarely dimorphic, very variable in size; clathrate scales (with lattice-like cells) present on rhizomes and fronds, sometimes also slender hair-like scales. Blade simple to 5-pinnate; veins free or rarely anastomosing.
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Sori
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Sori elongate along veins, away from lamina margin; protected by elongate indusia attached to the veins.
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Spores
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Spores monolete, echinate, reticulate or costate-alate.
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Chromosomes
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x = 36 (usually)
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Notes
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The name is derived from the Latin asplenum, spleenwort; in ancient Greece these plants were believed to cure diseases of the spleen.
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Contributor
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David Lorence & K. R. Wood
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