Family

Blechnaceae

Nomenclature

Brainea insignis (Hook.) J.Sm., Cat. Kew Ferns: 5. 1856; Hook., Fil. Exot. : t. 38. 1859; Bedd., Handb. Ferns Brit. India: 395, f. 230. 1883; Christ, Bot. Tidsskr. 24: 107. 1901; C.Chr., Bot. Tidsskr. 32: 346. 1916; Christ., Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 26: 333, pl. 28. 1931; Tardieu & C.Chr., Fl. Indo-Chine 7(2): 207, f. 25.3 & 25.4. 1940; Holttum, Rev. Fl. Malaya ed. 1, 2: 450. 1955 [‘1954’]; Holttum, Dansk Bot. Ark. 20: 9. 1961; Holttum, Dansk Bot. Ark 23: 237. 1965; Tagawa & K.Iwats., SouthE. Asian Stud. 5: 89. 1967; Tagawa & K.Iwats., Fl. Thailand 3: 302, f. 24.5 & 24.6. 1988; Boonkerd & Pollawatn, Pterid. Thailand: 146, 147, 180. 2000. – Bowringia insignis Hook., J. Bot. 5: 237, t. 2. 1853.

Description

Terrestrial. Rhizome erect, forming a trunk of more than 50 cm in height, the apex densely covered with scales; scales narrow with orbicular basal portion about 2 mm in diam., up to 30 by 0.5–0.8 mm, entire, glabrous, brown with dark brown central strand. Stipes 15–30 cm long, thick, stramineous, densely scaly at base. Laminae simply pinnate, with numerous pinnae, dimorphic; sterile lamina 40–70 by 30 cm, oblong-lanceolate with acute apex; lateral pinnae close, straight, slightly ascending, linear, gradually narrowing towards the finely acute apex, sessile, decurrent at base in uppermost ones, broadly cuneate to deeply cordate towards base, the margin sharply serrate, up to 15 by 1.2 cm; veins close; papyraceous, green to paler; fertile frond narrower; lateral pinnae up to 10 by 0.5 cm.

Distribution in Thailand

NORTHERN: Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lamphun, Lampang, Phrae, Tak; NORTH-WESTERN: Loei; SOUTH-WESTERN: Kanchanaburi; SOUTH-EASTERN: Trat.

Distribution in Laos

Vientiane, Xieng Khouang.

Distribution in Cambodia

Pursat

Wider Distribution

Himalayas, S China, Burma, Indochina, Peninsular Malaysia and N. Sumatra.

Ecology

Terrestrial on rather dry slopes in not so dense forests or in recent clearings at medium altitude (1000–1200 m).

Proposed IUCN Conservation Assessment

Least Concern (LC). This species is widespread and not under any known threats.

Voucher specimens - Thailand

Middleton et al. 4786, Kanchanaburi, Thong Pha Phum National Park (E).

Voucher specimens - Laos

Vidal 5588, Vientiane, Phou Khao Khouay (P); Poilane 2325, Xieng Khouang (P).

Voucher specimens - Cambodia

Harmand s.n., Pursat (P).