Family

Pteridaceae, subfamily Cheilanthoideae

Nomenclature

Cheilanthes pseudoargentea (S.K.Wu) K.Iwats., Fl. Thailand 3: 619. 1989; Boonkerd & Pollawatn, Pterid. Thailand: 121. 2000. – Aleuritopteris pseudoargentea S.K.Wu, Mem. Fac. Sci. Kyoto Univ. Biol. 8: 155, f. 2, 3b. 1983.

Cheilanthes farinosa auct. non (Forssk.) Kaulf.: Tagawa & K.Iwats., Fl. Thailand 3: 203. 1985, p.p.

Description

Rhizome short, erect, scaly; scales linear-lanceolate, bi-coloured, dense. Stipes castaneous, about 30 cm long, scaly at lower portion. Laminae pentagonal to ovate-deltoid, about 17 by 15 cm, acuminate at apex, bipinnate-tripinnatifid; lowest pinnae largest, 10 by 6 cm, sessile to subadnate; pinnules 5–8 pairs, lanceolate, acuminate, 5 by 1.5 cm, adnate at base; ultimate segments oblong, 6 by 1.5 mm; firm chartaceous, glabrous, covered with white waxy substances on the lower surface. Sori confluent at maturity; indusia membranous.

Distribution in Thailand

NORTHERN: Chiang Mai.

Wider Distribution

Endemic to Thailand.

Ecology

On calcareous rocks on cliffy mountain ridge near summit, 1900–2100 m alt.

Proposed IUCN Conservation Assessment

Data Deficient (DD). There is considerable taxonomic confusion in the genus Cheilanthes making accurate conservation assessments of many of the species difficult.

Notes

Cheilanthes is a difficult genus that needs more taxonomic research.

Voucher specimens - Thailand

Middleton et al. 4982, Chiang Mai, Doi Chiang Dao Wildlife Sanctuary (E).