Family

Polypodiaceae

Nomenclature

Selliguea oxyloba (Wall. ex Kunze) Fraser-Jenk., Taxon. Revis. Indian Subcontinental Pteridophytes 44. 2008. – Polypodium oxylobum Wall. ex Kunze, Linnaea 24: 255. 1851; C.Chr., Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 26: 334. 1931. – Phymatodes oxyloba (Wall. ex Kunze) C.Presl ex Ching, Contr. Inst. Bot. Natl. Acad. Peiping 2: 67. 1933; Tardieu & C.Chr., Fl. Indo-Chine 7(2): 474. 1941. – Crypsinus oxylobus (Wall. ex Kunze) Sledge, Bull. Brit. Mus. (Nat. Hist.) Bot. 2: 145. 1960; Tagawa & K.Iwats., SouthE. Asian Stud. 5: 60. 1967; Tagawa & K.Iwats., Fl. Thailand 3: 559, f. 56.6. 1989; Boonkerd & Pollawatn, Pterid. Thailand: 248, 267. 2000. – Type: Wallich 294, Nepal (lectotype K, designated by Morton, Isolectotyoe US - Kunze's own original specimen was destroyed in Leipzip)

Pleopeltis trifida (D.Don) Bedd., Suppl. Ferns Brit. Ind.: 96. 1892.

Description

Rhizome long creeping, about 3 mm diam., densely scaly throughout; scales gradually narrowing from round peltate base to long-tailed apex, about 5 by 1.3 mm, brown in broader basal portion, paler in narrow tails, toothed at margin. Stipes stramineous or brown, phyllopodia short, scaly, glabrous upwards, (5–)7–15(–20) cm long. Laminae lobed, with (1–)3–8 pairs of lateral lobes and a terminal one, very rarely simple and fertile, up to 30 by 25 cm; rachis brown beneath, paler on upper surface, winged with lobes 5–17 mm in breadth; lateral lobes usually longest at base, becoming smaller upwards, ascending, sometimes bending downwards, linear to oblong-subdeltoid, acute to acuminate at apex, up to 15 by 1.5–2.5(–4.5) cm, entire, terminal lobes longer; midrib raised on both surfaces, main veins distinct, ascending, more or less zigzag, the other veins obscure, reticulate, forming irregular areoles with included veinlets; papyraceous, deep green to paler, paler on lower surface, glabrous. Sori one between adjacent main veins, in a single row along both sides of midrib, subcostular or medial, round , 3–4 mm diam., hardly raised on upper surface.

Distribution in Thailand

NORTHERN: Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lamphun, Phitsanulok; NORTH-EASTERN: Loei; SOUTH-WESTERN: Ratchaburi; SOUTH-EASTERN: Prachin Buri.

Distribution in Cambodia

Kompong Speu.

Wider Distribution

N India, Upper Burma, SW China (Yunnan & Szechuan) and Indochina.

Ecology

Epiphytic commonly on mossy tree trunks or on wet rocks in dense evergreen forests at 1000–2300 m alt.

Proposed IUCN Conservation Assessment

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

Notes

In the mossy forests in Northern Thailand this is a fairly common epiphyte on tree trunks. The abundant collections show a wide range of variation in frond form especially in dissection and the form of lobes.

Voucher specimens - Thailand

Middleton et al. 4905, Chiang Mai, Doi Inthanon National Park (E); Middleton et al. 5168, Loei, Phu Luang Wildlife Sanctuary (E).