Family

Dryopteridaceae

Nomenclature

Dryopteris diffracta (Baker) C.Chr., Index Filic. 262. 1905; Boonkerd et al., Thai For. Bull. (Bot.) 32: 8. 2004. – Nephrodium diffractum Baker, Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1898: 230. 1898. – Acrorumohra diffracta (Baker) H.Ito in Nakai & Honda, Nov. Fl. Jap. 4: 101. 1938; Shieh et al., Fl. Taiwan ed. 2, 1: 304. 1994. – Arachniodes diffracta (Baker) Ching, Acta Bot. Sin. 10: 257. 1962.

Description

Rhizome short, erect or ascending, to 10 cm tall, crown 4–5 cm diam., densely scaly. Scales narrowly ovate, apex acuminate, margin entire, glabrous, brown with a paler margin. Stipes to 50 cm long, stramineous to brown, glabrous; lamina to 53 cm long, to 50 cm wide, tripinnate-quadripinnatifid, overall lamina shape triangular to ovate, thin, glabrous, rachis strongly zig-zig, pinnae reflexed; pinnae 6–12 pairs, ultimate segments somewhat flabellate, margin somewhat dentate; veins free, forked. Sori terminal on the veins.

Distribution in Thailand

NORTHERN: Phitsanulok.

Wider Distribution

China, Indochina, Taiwan.

Ecology

Hill evergreen forest. In deep leaf litter on sandstone bedrock at 1500–1600 m alt.

Proposed IUCN Conservation Assessment

Least Concern (LC). Although only known from one population in Thailand this species is widespread elsewhere and not under any known threat.

Voucher specimens - Thailand

Middleton et al. 5094, Phitsanulok, Phu Hin Rong Kla National Park (E).