Abstract:

The spores of 8 species and 1 variety belonging to 4 genera of Polypodiaceae subfam. Polypodioideae in Yunnan,
China were examined under LM and SEM. Of the species it is the first time to study the spores of Metapolyp odium
manmeiense and Polypodiastrum mengtzeense under SEM. The results show that the spores of this subfam. Polypodioideae
are morphologic uniform; they are monolete, bilaterally symmetric, ellipsoidal in polar view, bean- shaped in equatorial
view, and with or without perispore. The surface ornamentation is regularly verrucate. In addition, the relationship of the
spore morphology and taxonomy in Polypodiaceae subfam. Polypodioideae was discussed in this paper, providing more informative
data for the systematics and palynology of Polypodiaceae.

Key words: Spore morphology, Polypodiaceae subfam. Polypodioideae, Yunnan