Family

Gleicheniaceae

Nomenclature

Dicranopteris splendida (Hand.-Mazz.) Tagawa, Acta Phytotax. Geobot. 8: 164. 1939; Ching, Fl. Reipubl. Popularis Sin. 2: 121. 1959; Tagawa & K.Iwats., SouthE. Asian Stud. 5: 35. 1967; Tagawa & K.Iwats., Fl. Thailand 3: 54. 1979; Boonkerd & Pollawatn, Pterid. Thailand: 80. 2000. – Gleichenia splendida Hand.-Mazz., Akad. Wiss. Abh. Math.-Naturwiss. Kl. 61: 81. 1924; Tardieu & C.Chr., Fl. Indo-Chine 7(2): 50. 1939.

Dicranopteris ampla Ching & Chiu, ActaPhytotax. Sin. 8: 132. 1959; Ching, Fl. Reipubl. Popularis Sin. 2: 117. 1959.

Description

Terrestrial. Rhizome dichotomously branched, near the apex protected by peltate scales, long creeping, about 4 mm in diameter, densely hairy with shining brown stiff hairs. Fronds of mature plants usually with indefinite growth in length, bearing primary branches in pairs. Stipes about 50 cm long, stramineous or brown, glabrescent. Pinnae twice forked; ultimate lobes bearing no accessory branches, narrowly oblong, 30–45 cm long, up to 17 cm wide; ultimate segments linear, round to moderately acute at apex, entire and usually flat at margin, to 10 cm long, 1 cm broad; costules 1–1.3 cm apart; veins pinnate, distinct on both surfaces, texture rigid, green, glabrous, lower surface glaucous. Sori more than one row at each side of costules.

Distribution in Thailand

NORTHERN: Chiang Mai, Lampang; PENINSULAR: Krabi, Nakhon Si Thammarat.

Distribution in Laos

Xieng Khouang.

Wider Distribution

Khasia, Upper Burma, S and SW China, and Indochina. Khao Luang is the southern limit of the distribution of this species ; not recorded from Malesia.

Ecology

On clayey slopes along paths in half-shaded places at edge of deep primitive forest at medium altitudes.

Proposed IUCN Conservation Assessment

Least Concern (LC). This species is very widespread.

Voucher specimens - Thailand

Middleton et al. 5576, Lampang, Chae Son National Park (E).