四川旱蕨 si chuan han jue

Rhizomes erect, short; scales concolorous, brown, subulate-lanceolate, thin and twisted. Fronds densely clustered. Stipe dark brown, 3-8 cm, terete, brittle, with sparse narrow scales at base, occasionally with sparse, brown, hairlike scales distally. Lamina brownish green when dry, lanceolate to somewhat oblong-triangular, 5-10 × 2-4 cm, 2-pinnate or occasionally 3-pinnate with a discrete terminal pinnule or segment, papery, glabrous on both surfaces, base not reduced, apex shortly acuminate; rachis straight; rachis, costae, and costules chestnut-colored, lustrous. Pinnae 7-21, oblique; basal or second pair of pinnae largest, medial and distal pinnae gradually reduced, undivided or imparipinnate with 3-9 pinnules, stalks 1-3 mm. Ultimate pinnules or segments discrete, oblong to ovate, unlobed, 3-6 × 2-3 mm, shortly stalked, base rounded to truncate, apex rounded or obtuse. Sori ± confluent, continuous or sometimes interrupted at pinnule or segment apex. False indusia poorly developed, pale green, narrow, margins undulate or irregularly crenate.

● Rare, limestone crevices in hot dry valleys; 1900-2800 m. SW and W Sichuan.