Family

Polypodiaceae

Nomenclature

Loxogramme chinensis Ching, Sinensia 1: 13. 1929; Tardieu & C.Chr., Fl. Indo-Chine 7(2): 466. 1941; Tagawa & K.Iwats., SouthE. Asian Stud. 5: 56. 1967; Tagawa & K.Iwats., Fl. Thailand 3: 578. 1989; Boonkerd & Pollawatn, Pterid. Thailand: 277. 2000. – Type: R.C.Ching 7146, N.W. Kwangsi province near the border of Kweichow province, common on the trunks of trees in mixed forest about 4800 ft.

Loxogramme assimilis Ching, Bull. Dept. Biol. Sun Yatsen Univ. 6: 31. 1933; Boonkerd & Pollawatn, Pterid. Thailand: 276. 2000.

Loxogramme lanceolata auct. non (Sw.) C.Presl: Bedd., Handb. Ferns Brit. India: 392. 1883, p.p.; Holttum, Dansk Bot. Ark. 20: 20. 1961.

Description

Rhizome long creeping, slender, about 1.5 mm diam., densely scaly throughout; scales ovate with rather broad tails, up to 3 mm long including tails about 2 mm in length, 0.8 mm broad, deeply cordate, entire, clathrate. Stipes indistinct, densely scaly at base, pale green, narrowly winged to the very base. Laminae linear-lanceolate, acuminate at apex, gradually narrowing and decurrent downwards to the wings of indistinct stipes, up to 20 by 1 cm, edges entire, more or less involute; midrib raised on both surfaces, dark; thick, coriaceous, fleshy, deep green on upper surface, paler beneath, glabrous. Sori nearly parallel to midrib or a little oblique, usually in a single row or often uniting with neighbouring to form linear coenosori, usually 5–10 by 1.5 mm, naked, superficial .

Distribution in Thailand

NORTHERN: Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai; NORTH-EASTERN: Loei; EASTERN: Chaiyaphum.

Wider Distribution

India (Assam), Bhutan, Upper Burma, S & SW China and N Vietnam.

Ecology

On mossy tree trunks or on mossy rocks in dense evergreen forests at 1600–2200 m alt.

Proposed IUCN Conservation Assessment

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

Notes

Loxogramme assimilis is likely just a large form of Loxogramme chinensis and not specifically distinct although some authors (e.g. Fraser-Jenkins, 2008) recognise them as separate taxa .

Voucher specimens - Thailand

Middleton et al. 4953, Chiang Mai, Doi Pha Ti Do (E); Middleton et al. 5165, Loei, Phu Luang Wildlife Sanctuary (E).