Family

Pteridaceae, subfamily Cheilanthoideae

Nomenclature

Cheilanthes belangeri (Bory) C.Chr., Index Filic.: 172. 1905; Tardieu & C.Chr., Fl. Indo-Chine 7(2): 172. 1940; Holttum, Rev. Fl. Malaya ed. 1, 2: 591. 1955 [‘1954’]; Holttum, Dansk Bot. Ark. 20: 33. 1961; Holttum, Dansk Bot. Ark 23: 243. 1965; Tagawa & K.Iwats., SouthE. Asian Stud. 5: 108. 1967; Tagawa & K.Iwats., Fl. Thailand 3: 202. 1985; Tagawa & K.Iwats., Fl. Thailand 3: 617. 1989; Boonkerd & Pollawatn, Pterid. Thailand: 119. 2000; Newman et al., Checkl. Vasc. Pl. Lao PDR: 31. 2007 (as Cheilanthes pelangeri). – Pteris belangeri Bory in Belanger, Voy. Indes Or. 2: 44. 1833.

Cheilanthes varians Hook., Sp. Fil. 2: 89, t. 103A. 1852; Bedd., Handb. Ferns Brit. India: 91, f. 47. 1883.

Pellaea cambodiana Baker, Ann. Bot. (Oxford) 5: 213. 1891. 1891.

Cheilanthes chusana auct. non Hook.: Newman et al., Checkl. Vasc. Pl. Lao PDR: 31. 2007.

Description

Terrestrial or lithophytic. Rhizome short, erect, covered with scales; scales narrow, shining brown, 2–3 mm long, entire. Stipes castaneous, polished, 8–15 (–30) cm long, sparsely scaly on lower parts, minutely pubescent, grooved on adaxial surface. Laminae linear-lanceolate, bipinnatifid to tripinnatisect, 10–20(–82) by 3–5(–10) cm; lateral pinnae more than 15 pairs, 2–5 cm apart in lower fronds, closer in upper; lower pinnae larger, pinnate, up to 4 by 2 cm, oblong-subdeltoid, acuminate at apex, broadly cuneate and stalked at base; middle pinnae 10–25 by 5–10 mm, pinnatifid at base, oblong or lanceolate; pinnules oblong, oblique, subtruncate or broadly cuneate at base, round at apex, irregularly lobed in larger ones, apical pinnules of larger pinnae like upper ones, moderately acute or round at apex, entire at apical part; thickly papyraceous, yellow-green, glabrous or densely covered with spherical pale green or colourless on both laminar surfaces; sometimes producing bulbils on lobes underneath; veins all free, hardly visible. Sori at margin of lobes, nearly continuous or interrupted, protected by reflexed margin of lobes to 0.7 mm in breadth.

Distribution in Thailand

NORTHERN: Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lampang, Phitsanulok; NORTH-EASTERN: Nong Khai; EASTERN: Ubon Ratchathani; SOUTH-EASTERN: Chon Buri, Chanthaburi; PENINSULAR: Surat Thani, Satun, Yala.

Distribution in Laos

Champasak.

Distribution in Cambodia

Kampot, Kompong Chhnang, Pursat, Siem Reap.

Wider Distribution

N India, S China, Indochina and Peninsular Malaysia, to the Philippines.

Ecology

On clayey banks of paths or on muddy rocks in mixed forests or in open areas at low altitudes.

Proposed IUCN Conservation Assessment

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

Notes

Cheilanthes is a difficult genus that needs more taxonomic research.

Voucher specimens - Thailand

Middleton et al. 5180, Ubon Ratchathani, Phu Chong Nayoi National Park. Trail to Kham Din Dam (E).

Voucher specimens - Laos

Maxwell 98-866, Champasak (CMU)

Voucher specimens - Cambodia

Long et al. CL229, Siem Reap (P).