Pyrrosia piloselloides (L.) M.G.Price

Family

Polypodiaceae

Nomenclature

Pyrrosia piloselloides (L.) M.G.Price, Kalikasan 3: 176. 1974; Ravensb. & Hennipman., Leiden Bot. Ser. 9: 302, f. 1, e, j, 2, e, i. 1986; Boonkerd & Pollawatn, Pterid. Thailand: 260, 288. 2000. – Pteris piloselloides L., Sp. Pl. ed. 2: 1530. 1763. – Drymoglossum piloselloides (L.) C.Presl, Tent. Pterid.: 227. 1836; Bedd., Handb. Ferns Brit. India: 411, f. 244. 1883; Christ, Bot. Tidsskr. 24: 105. 1901; C.Chr., Dansk Bot. Ark. 6(3):86. 1929; Tardieu & C.Chr., Fl. Indo-Chine 7(2): 516, f. 60,1. 1941; Holttum, Rev. Fl. Malaya: 149, f. 64. 1955 [‘1954’]; Holttum, Dansk Bot. Ark. 20: 19. 1961; Seidenf., Bull. Nat. Hist. Siam Soc. 19: 86. 1958; Tagawa & K.Iwats., SouthE. Asian Stud. 3(3): 76. 1965, 5: 49. 1967; Tagawa & K.Iwats., Fl. Thailand 3: 490, f. 49.12–13. 1989; Hovenkamp, Fl. Males., Ser. II, Ferns and Fern Allies 3: 167. 1998. – Type: Burman s.n. 1759 (G, herb. Delessert), Java.

Acrostichum heterophyllum L., Sp. Pl. 2: 1067. 1753. – Drymoglossum heterophyllum (L.) C.Chr., Bot. Tidsskr. 32: 348, 1916; Bonap., Notes Ptérid. 14: 63. 1923; E.Smith, J. Siam Soc. Nat. Hist. Suppl. 8: 8. 1929.

Description

Rhizome long creeping, about 1 mm diam., bearing fronds 1.5–4 cm apart, densely scaly throughout; scales small, ovate-oblong, irregularly toothed, up to 1 mm in length and breadth, dark brown in central portion, paler at edges. Stipes very short, a few milimetres long. Fronds simple, distinctly dimorphic. Sterile fronds: laminae nearly circular, oblong or elliptic, round at apex, round to cuneate at base, 1–4(–7) by 1–2 cm; midrib distinct on lower half of fronds, veins hardly visible, anastomosing; coriaceous, both surfaces very sparsely stellate hairy or glabrescent. Fertile fronds: laminae linear-lanceolate, round at apex, gradually narrowing towards attenuate base, 3–15(–25) by 0.3–1.5 cm; midrib distinct throughout, slightly raised on both surfaces, veins anastomosing, with free included veinlets. Sori forming continuous marginal lines up to 2 mm in breadth, covered with stellate hairs when young.

Distribution in Thailand

NORTH-EASTERN: Nong Khai; EASTERN: Chaiyaphum; SOUTH-WESTERN: Kanchanaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan; CENTRAL: Nakhon Nayok, Bangkok; SOUTH-EASTERN: Chon Buri, Chanthaburi, Trat; PENINSULAR: Chumphon, Ranong, Surat Thani, Phangnga, Krabi, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Trang, Satun, Songkhla, Yala, Narathiwat.

Distribution in Laos

Unspecified.

Distribution in Cambodia

Koh Kong.

Wider Distribution

Himalayas, Indochina, S China (Hainan) and throughout Malesia.

Ecology

Usually on tree trunks in not so dense forests at low altitudes, rather common.

Proposed IUCN Conservation Assessment

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

Voucher specimens - Thailand

Middleton et al. 4611, Trat, Ko Chang, Near Thanmagon Waterfall (E).

Voucher specimens - Cambodia

Viboth R3-72, Koh Kong, Thma Bang (P).

Habit

Habit

Habit with sterile (more circular) and fertile (elongate) fronds

Habit with sterile (more circular) and fertile (elongate) fronds

Rhizome

Rhizome

Lower surfaces of sterile and fertile fronds

Lower surfaces of sterile and fertile fronds

Fertile frond

Fertile frond

Sori

Sori

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