Family

Pteridaceae, subfamily Pteridoideae

Nomenclature

Pteris biaurita L., Sp. Pl.: 1076. 1753; Christ, Bot. Tidsskr. 24: 106. 1901, as P. quadriaurita var.; C.Chr., Bot. Tidsskr. 32: 348. 1916; C.Chr., Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 26: 333. 1931; Tardieu & C.Chr., Fl. Indo-Chine 7(2): 159. 1940; Holttum, Rev. Fl. Malaya ed. 1, 2: 407, f. 237. 1955 [‘1954’]; Holttum, Dansk Bot. Ark. 20: 27. 1961; Holttum, Dansk Bot. Ark 23: 235. 1965; Tagawa & K.Iwats., SouthE Asian Stus. 3(3): 83. 1965; Tagawa & K.Iwats., SouthE. Asian Stud. 5: 80. 1967; Tagawa & K.Iwats., Fl. Thailand 3: 237. 1985; Boonkerd & Pollawatn, Pterid. Thailand: 106, 127. 2000. – Campteria biaurita (L.) Hook., Gen. Fil.: t. 65A. 1841; Bedd., Handb. Ferns Brit. India: 116. 1883.

Pteris quadriaurita var. grevilleana Christ, Bot. Tidsskr. 24: 106. 1901, p.p. excl. type.

Pteris repandula Link, Fil. Spec.: 56. 1841; Hosseus, Beih. Bot. Centr. 28(2): 366. 1911.

Description

Rhizome short, erect, bearing a few fronds in a tuft, densely scaly at apex; scales to 5 by 0.5 mm, nearly black margined by pale ferrugineous edges with toothed margin. Stipes up to 50 cm long, dark brown and scaly at apex; laminae deeply bipinnatifid, up to 60 cm or more in length, 30 cm wide. Pinnae opposite or nearly so, up to 12 pairs, straight, ascending, linear-lanceolate, broadly cuneate at base, gradually narrowing towards acuminate apex, up to 20 by 5 cm, deeply lobed to 5/6 way towards costa, basal pinnae bearing a long basiscopic pinnule just like lateral ones; ultimate segments oblong, falcate, rounded or moderately acute at apex, with rounded sinus, up to 7 mm broad, firm, green, glabrous; basal veinlets uniting with those of opposite groups forming arches close to costa, bearing a few branches on posterior side, the other veinlets forked, all free. Sori marginal, usually continuous along segments except at bottom of sinus and at apex; indusia thin, pale.

Distribution in Thailand

NORTHERN: Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lamphun, Tak; NORTH-EASTERN: Phetchabun, Loei; EASTERN: Chaiyaphum; SOUTH-WESTERN: Kanchanaburi; CENTRAL: Nakhon Nayok; SOUTH-EASTERN: Chon Buri, Chanthaburi, Trat; PENINSULAR: Surat Thani, Phangnga, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Trang, Yala.

Distribution in Laos

Champasak, Khammouane, Kampot, Hua Phan, Xieng Khouang.

Distribution in Cambodia

Kampot, Koh Kong.

Wider Distribution

Pantropical.

Ecology

On mountain slopes in light shade or in lower montane forests at altitudes below 1400 m, usually a lowland species .

Proposed IUCN Conservation Assessment

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

Notes

The size and form of frond are very variable. The most important diagnostic feature is in the venation, anastomosing to form costal areoles .

Voucher specimens - Thailand

Middleton et al. 4662, Chanthaburi, Namtok Phlio National Park (E); Middleton et al. 4694, Chanthaburi, Khlong Khrue Wai Wildlife Sanctuary (E); Middleton et al. 4716, Chanthaburi, Khao Soi Dao Wildlife Sanctuary (E).

Voucher specimens - Laos

Thorel s.n., Champasak, Kong (P); Poilane 2104, Hua Phan, Sam Neua (P); Petelot 4097, Khammouane, Kouan Phe Vang (P); Bouillod 39, Kampot (P); Poilane 2210, Xieng Khouang (P).

Voucher specimens - Cambodia

Bouillod s.n., Unspecified (P); Long et al. CL499, Koh Kong (P).