Populations of gametophytes and sporophytes of Polypodium hirsutissimum occurring in a semideciduous mesophytic forest in the State of São Paulo, Brazil, were observed during 24 months and samples were collected for study in the laboratory. The morphology of different phases of development, from gametophytes until the formation of adult sporophytes, is presented. Survival in a xeric environment, especially of young plants, is discussed.
Polypodium hirsutissimum; Polypodiaceae; Pteridophyta; heteroblastic development