Family

Aspleniaceae

Nomenclature

Asplenium phyllitidis D.Don, Prodr. Fl. Nepal.: 7. 1825; Holttum, Rev. Fl. Malaya ed. 1, 2: 420. 1955 [‘1954’]; Seidenf., Nat. Hist. Bull. Siam Soc. 19: 86. 1958; Tagawa & K.Iwats., SouthE. Asian Stud. 5: 84. 1967; Holttum, Gard. Bull. Singapore 27: 152. 1974; K.Iwats., Acta Phytotax. Geobot. 29: 23. 1978; Tagawa & K.Iwats., Fl. Thailand 3: 268, f. 21.3,4,5. 1985; Boonkerd & Pollawatn, Pterid. Thailand: 112, 144. 2000. – Asplenium nidus var. phyllitidis (D.Don) Alderw., Malayan Ferns Fern Allies.: 282. 1917; Tardieu & C.Chr., Fl. Indo-Chine 7(2): 220. 1940. – Thamnopteris nidus var. phyllitidis (D.Don) Bedd., Handb. Ferns Brit. India: 139. 1883.

Two subspecies are recognised in Thailand

Asplenium phyllitidis D.Don subsp. phyllitidis

And

Asplenium phyllitidis D.Don. subsp. malesicum Holttum, Gard. Bull. Singapore 27: 153. 1974; Tagawa & K.Iwats., Fl. Thailand 3: 268. 1985; Boonkerd & Pollawatn, Pterid. Thailand: 144. 2000.

Asplenium oblanceolatum Copel., Philipp. J. Sci. Bot. 9: 229. 1914.

Description

Epiphytic or lithophytic . Similar to Asplenium nidus L., differing from it in: rhizome scales brown, broader; frond up to 80 by 7 cm (in exceptional cases up to 10 cm broad); midrib raised below; sori usually reaching more than half-way to margin , often occupying 3/4 of the length of veins.

The two subspecies of Asplenium phyllitidis in Thailand can be distinguished thus:

1. Scales usually less than 7 mm long. Sori on almost all veins, including both branches of a vein which forks near costa; indusia narrower; spores smooth or reticulate . Plants of Northern region…a. subsp. phyllitidis

1. Scales up to 12 mm or more long; sori usually on one branch of each vein; indusia broader; spores echinate ; plants from Central, South-eastern and Peninsular region…b. subsp. malesicum

Distribution in Thailand

For Asplenium phyllitidis subsp. phyllitidis: NORTHERN: Lampang, Tak.

For Asplenium phyllitidis subsp. malesicum: SOUTH-WESTERN: Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan; CENTRAL: Nakhon Nayok, Bangkok; SOUTH-EASTERN: Chanthaburi, Trat; PENINSULAR: Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Trang, Satun.

Distribution in Laos

Khammouane.

Distribution in Cambodia

For Asplenium phyllitidis subsp. malesicum: Koh Kong.

Wider Distribution

For Asplenium phyllitidis subsp. phyllitidis: Himalaya.

For Asplenium phyllitidis subsp. malesicum: Peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra to New Guinea.

Ecology

On mossy tree-trunks or on muddy rocks in dense evergreen forests at medium altitudes.

Similar species

Asplenium nidus L.

Proposed IUCN Conservation Assessment

Least Concern (LC). Both subspecies of this species  are widespread and not under any known threats.

Voucher specimens - Laos

Delacour s.n., Khammouane, Nape (P).

Voucher specimens - Cambodia

For Asplenium phyllitidis subsp. malesicum: Viboth R3-74, Koh Kong, Thma Baing (P).