Family

Polypodiaceae

Nomenclature

Scleroglossum pusillum (Blume) Alderw., Bull. Jard. Bot. Buitenzorg, Ser. 2, 7: 39, pl. 5, f. 1–2. 1912; Parris, Fl. Pen. Malaysia, Ser. I, Ferns & Lycoph. 1: 189. 2010. – Vittaria pusilla Blume, Enum. Pl. Javae 199. 1828. – Type: Blume s.n., Java (holotype L).

Vittaria minor Fée, Mém. Foug., 3. Hist. Vittar. 23, pl. 4, f. 2. 1852. – Scleroglossum minus (Fée) C.Chr., Dansk Bot. Ark. 6(3): 29. 1929; Holttum, Rev. Fl. Malaya ed. 1, 2: 236.1955 [‘1954’]; Tagawa & K.Iwats., SouthE. Asian Stud. 5: 63. 1967; Tagawa & K.Iwats., Fl. Thailand 3: 599, f. 59.10. 1989; Boonkerd & Pollawatn, Pterid. Thailand: 294. 2000.

Description

Rhizome short, ascending, bearing a tuft of fronds, scaly; scales thin, brown, gradually narrowing from base towards apex, up to 4 by 0.8 mm. Stipes indistinct, dark, winged to the base, sparsely stellate hairy. Laminae simple, linear, 1.8–8(–15) cm by 1–4 mm; leathery, glabrous to sparsely hairy with branched hairs. Soral grooves almost marginal .

Distribution in Thailand

NORTHERN: Chiang Mai, Phitsanulok; NORTH-EASTERN: Loei; PENINSULAR: Nakhon Si Thammarat.

Wider Distribution

Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, throughout Malesia and the Pacific Islands.

Ecology

On mossy tree trunks in dense evergreen or deciduous forests at medium or high altitudes throughout Thailand but rather rare.

Proposed IUCN Conservation Assessment

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

Voucher specimens - Thailand

Middleton et al. 5137, Loei, Phu Luang Wildlife Sanctuary (E).