FERNS OF CAMBODIA

There are approximately 130 species of ferns in Cambodia although this is almost certainly an underestimate of the actual number of species due to the extremely low plant collection density for the country. Of the countries Thailand, Laos and Cambodia the number of species recorded for Cambodia is by far the lowest but even taking into account the relative collection densities of the three countries it is likely that Cambodia really does have the lowest fern diversity of these countries as it also has the least variation in topography and range of habitats. Nevertheless much of the country is inadequately explored and many more species that are otherwise widespread across Asia will likely be found there and species known from neighbouring parts of Thailand, Laos and Vietnam will also possibly be found in Cambodia with better collecting. Currently the only species in Cambodia that is not also known from Thailand is the endemic Lindsaea cambodgensis Christ.