Genus Polyphlebium Copel. (Copeland 1938)

This genus, here newly reported for the archipelago, is mostly neotropical with almost 15 species and a few ones in Asia, Australia, Pacific islands and a single species in tropical Africa and the western Indian Ocean. All species are epiphytic or lithophytic, small to large plants characterized by long-creeping, filiform rhizomes bearing pending simply-pinnate to highly divided fronds. The marginal sori have a cylindrical base and lips are more or less developed. Small to medium-sized taxa can be easily confused with Crepidomanes species by sharing the same growth-form and often the same gross frond shape and division. But all Polyphlebium species bear roots, even if few and reduced, while Crepidomanes species are all rootless or bear root-like shoots with caulinary anatomy (Schneider 2000), which are never observed in Polyphlebium . In addition, laminae never exhibit false veins or folds imitating veins, often observed in Crepidomanes .