polypody (redirected from common polypodies)

pol·y·po·dy  (pl-pd)

n. pl. pol·y·po·dies

Any of various ferns of the widely distributed genus Polypodium, having simple or compound fronds, round sori arranged in one or more rows along the midrib, and creeping rootstocks.

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[Middle English polypodie, from Latin polypodium, from Greek polupodion, from diminutive of polupous, many-footed : polu-, poly- + pous, pod-, foot; see -pod.]

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polypody [ˈpɒlɪˌpəʊdɪ]

n pl -dies

1. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Plants) any of various ferns of the genus Polypodium, esp P. vulgare, having deeply divided leaves and round naked sori: family Polypodiaceae

2. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Plants) any fern of the family Polypodiaceae, all having opaque leaves that are divided in most species

[from Latin polypodium, from Greek, from poly- + pous foot]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

polypody - any of numerous ferns of the genus Polypodium fern - any of numerous flowerless and seedless vascular plants having true roots from a rhizome and fronds that uncurl upward; reproduce by spores genus Polypodium, Polypodium - a genus of ferns belonging to the family Polypodiaceae and having rounded naked sori licorice fern, Polypodium glycyrrhiza - fern having rootstock of a sweetish flavor gray polypody, grey polypody, Polypodium polypodioides, resurrection fern - fern growing on rocks or tree trunks and having fronds greyish and scurfy below; Americas and South Africa coast polypody, leatherleaf, leathery polypody, Polypodium scouleri - stiff leathery-leaved fern of western North America having ovate fronds parted to the midrib American wall fern, Polypodium virgianum, rock polypody, rock brake - chiefly lithophytic or epiphytic fern of North America and east Asia adder's fern, common polypody, golden maidenhair, Polypodium vulgare, sweet fern, wall fern, golden polypody - mat-forming lithophytic or terrestrial fern with creeping rootstocks and large pinnatifid fronds found throughout North America and Europe and Africa and east Asia