Description: Rhizome erect or short-creeping, thick, covered with dark brown or black scales.
Stipes clustered, stout, erect; rachises grooved above, the grooves confluent with the grooves of the secondary rachises; lamina membranous to ± leathery, simple to 2-pinnate with pinnae pinnatifid; veins usually free.
Sori superficial, elongated along the veins; indusium pale, membranous.
Distribution and occurrence: World: c. 400 species, cosmopolitan. Australia: 10 species, Qld, N.S.W., Vic., Tas.
A broad concept of this large genus, including Athyrium, is adopted here pending revision of the Australian species.
Text by Peter G. Wilson
Taxon concept:
Taxa not yet included in identification key
Diplazium esculentum,
Diplazium melanochlamys
| | Key to the species | |
| 1 | Secondary rachises much darker at their junction with the main rachis; sori to 1 mm, rarely to 1.5 mm long | Diplazium assimile |
| Secondary rachises not much darker at their junction with the main rachis; sori usually >1.5 mm long | 2 |
| 2 | Secondary pinnae lobed almost to the midvein | Diplazium australe |
| Secondary pinnae lobed about halfway to the midvein
Back to 1 | Diplazium dilatatum |
|
