Family

Pteridaceae, subfamily Pteridoideae

Nomenclature

Pteris venusta Kunze, Bot. Zeit. 6: 195. 1848; Tardieu & C.Chr., Fl. Indo-Chine 7(2): 145. 1940; Holttum, Dansk Bot. Ark. 23: 236. 1965; Tagawa & K.Iwats., SouthE. Asian Stud. 5: 82. 1967; Tagawa & K.Iwats., Fl. Thailand 3: 256. 1985; Boonkerd & Pollawatn, Pterid. Thailand: 132. 2000; Newman et al., Checkl. Vasc. Pl. Lao PDR: 31. 2007.

Pteris pellucida auct. non C.Presl: Bedd., Handb. Ferns Brit. India: 106. 1883; E.Smith, J. Siam Soc. Nat. Hist. Suppl. 8: 4. 1929; C.Chr., Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 26: 333. 1931.

Description

Rhizome short, creeping or ascending, 7–10 mm diam., bearing close fronds, densely scaly at apex; scales linear, rather stiff, up to 5 mm long, dark brown to nearly black with paler edge, entire. Stipes dark brown and scaly at base, stramineous, castaneous above, puberulous or glabrescent, 50–80 cm long, lamina oblong, imparipinnate, up to 60 by 30 cm; rachis stramineous or castaneous beneath, winged in upper part, puberulous; lateral pinnae 3–7 pairs, never branching, sessile or shortly stalked in lower ones, adnate or decurrent downwards in upper ones, falcate, gradually narrowing towards cuneate base, caudate with long tail at apex, margin subentire or minutely serrate at apical portion, up to 30 cm or more long, 3 cm broad, terminal pinnae like the lower lateral pinnae but straight, chartaceous, veins close, visible on both surfaces. Sori continuous along the margin of pinnae except at base and towards apex; indusia thin but firm , pale brown.

Distribution in Thailand

NORTHERN: Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lamphun, Lampang, Tak, Phitsanulok; NORTH-EASTERN: Loei, Khon Kaen; EASTERN: Nakhon Ratchasima; SOUTH-WESTERN: Kanchanaburi; SOUTH-EASTERN: Prachin Buri, Chon Buri, Chanthaburi.

Distribution in Laos

Luang Phrabang, Xieng Khouang.

Distribution in Cambodia

Mondulkiri.

Wider Distribution

N India to Malesia.

Ecology

On rather dry mountain-slopes in forests at medium altitudes (300–900 m).

Proposed IUCN Conservation Assessment

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

Voucher specimens - Thailand

Middleton et al. 4695, Chanthaburi, Khao Soi Dao Wildlife Sanctuary (E); Middleton et al. 5112, Loei, Phu Suan Sai National Park (E).

Voucher specimens - Laos

Vidal 4247, Luang Phrabang (P).

Voucher specimens - Cambodia

Long et al. CL474, Mondulkiri (P).