Family

Polypodiaceae

Nomenclature

Neocheiropteris normalis (D.Don) Tagawa, J. Jap. Bot. 27: 217. 1952; Tagawa & K.Iwats., SouthE. Asian Stud. 5: 51. 1967; Tagawa & K.Iwats., Fl. Thailand 3: 523, f. 52.7 & 52.8. 1989; Boonkerd & Pollawatn, Pterid. Thailand: 255, 281. 2000. – Polypodium normale D.Don, Prodr. Fl. Nepal.: 1. 1825; Hosseus, Beih. Bot. Centralbl. 28(2): 366. 1911. – Pleopeltis normalis (D.Don) T.Moore, Index Fil.: 347. 1862; Bedd., Handb. Ferns Brit. India: 353. 1883. – Microsorum normale (D.Don) Ching, Bull. Fan Mem. Inst. Biol. 4: 299. 1933; Tardieu & C.Chr., Fl. Indo-Chine 7(2): 479. 1941; Holttum, Rev. Fl. Malaya ed. 1, 2: 175, f. 83. 1955 [‘1954’]; Nooteboom, Blumea 42: 341. 1997. – Neolepisorus normalis (D.Don) Ching, Bull. Fan Mem. Inst. Biol. 10: 13. 1940. – Tricholepidium normale (D.Don) Ching, Acta Phytotax. Geobot. 29: 43. 1978. – Type: Buchanan-Hamilton, Nepal (holotype BM, a single frond mounted at left on same sheet as the holotype of Polypodium scolopendrium Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don , Morton photograph 7612).

Description

Rhizome long creeping, 2–3 mm diam., bearing fronds 0.5– 3 cm apart, densely scaly throughout; scales ovate, round at base, moderately acute at apex, entire, about 2 by 1 mm, pale brown, concolorous, hardly clathrate, bearing a tuft of setose hairs, dark brown, up to 4 mm in length. Stipes up to 5 cm long, winged in upper part, scaly in lower portion, stramineous. Laminae narrowly lanceolate, attenuately long-acuminate at apex, broadest at middle portion, gradually narrowing downwards towards attenuate base, entire and flat or slightly wavy at margin, up to 60 by 5 cm; midrib distinctly raised on both surfaces; lateral veins more or less visible, copiously anastomosing; herbaceous, the margin of laminae cartilaginous. Sori rather irregular in one row between midrib and the margin of laminae, costular, round , up to 2.5 mm diam.

Distribution in Thailand

NORTHERN: Chiang Mai, Phitsanulok; NORTH-EASTERN: Loei; SOUTH-WESTERN: Kanchanaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan; SOUTH-EASTERN: Chanthaburi.

Wider Distribution

Himalayas, Upper Burma, S China, Vietnam and W Malesia (Peninsular Malaysia & Sumatra).

Ecology

Scandent highly on tree trunks in gloomy, dense evergreen forests at high altitudes, locally abundant.

Similar species

Microsorum superficiale (Blume) Ching

Proposed IUCN Conservation Assessment

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

Voucher specimens - Thailand

Middleton et al. 4892, Chiang Mai, Doi Inthanon National Park (E); Middleton et al. 5092, Phitsanulok, Phu Hin Rong Kla National Park (E).