Family

Blechnaceae

Nomenclature

Woodwardia japonica (L.f.) Sm., Mém. Acad. Imp. Sci. Turin 6. 411. 1793; P.S.Chiu, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 2: 237–248. 1974; C.E.Devol, Fl. Taiwan 1: 159. 1980; P.H.Hô, Illustr. Fl. Vietnam 1: 259. 1991; K.Iwats., Ferns & Fern Allies of Japan: 156, pl. 89. 1992; Boonkerd & Pollawatn, Pterid. Thailand: 148, 149, 181. 2000; Boonkerd & Pollawatn, Thai For. Bull. (Bot.) 32: 4. 2004. – Blechnum japonicum L.f., Suppl.: 447 (1781).

Woodwardia cochinchinensis Ching, Bull. Fan Mem. Inst. Biol. 2: 7. 1931; Tardieu & C.Chr., Fl. Indo-Chine 7(2): 211. 1940; Tagawa & K.Iwats., SouthE. Asian Stud. 5: 89. 1967; Tagawa & K.Iwats., Fl. Thailand 3: 301, f. 24. 7. 1988; Newman et al., Checkl. Vasc. Pl. Lao PDR: 25. 2007.

Description

Rhizome short, erect, thick, densely covered with large brown scales. Stipes erect, 25–50 cm long, stramineous or faintly pinkish, densely scaly at base; scales softly herbaceous, lanceolate with round base, entire at margin, brown or paler, up to 30 by 4 mm. Frond large, monomorphic, 1-pinnate-pinnatifid. Laminae oblong-lanceolate, truncate or broadly cuneate at base, acute at apex, pinnate with deeply lobed pinnae and distinct apical pinna, 50–90 by 28–40 cm; rachis scaly on upper surface; lateral pinnae 7–25 pairs, straight, linear-lanceolate, gradually narrowing towards acute apex, subtruncate at sessile or very shortly stalked base, deeply lobed 3/4 way towards costa, median pinnae 14–20 by 2–6 cm; apical pinna with more than a dozen serrate segments, wider than the lateral ones, ultimate segment oblong-subdeltoid, moderately acute at apex, slightly dentate at margin, 0.8–2.5 by 0.8 cm, glabrous on both surfaces; row of costal and costular areoles distinct; papyraceous, pale-green, glabrous. Sori oblong, 4–10 on a segment, 2 rows along costules, 2–4 mm long, sunken, covered completely by indusia; indusia membranous, pale brown with thin white margin, toothed .

Distribution in Thailand

NORTHERN: Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Nan; NORTH-EASTERN: Loei.

Distribution in Laos

Champasak, Hua Phan, Xieng Khouang.

Wider Distribution

Korea, Japan, China, Taiwan and Vietnam.

Ecology

Terrestrial on rather dry slopes in pine forests on humus-rich floor or not so dense evergreen forests at 900–1550 m alt.

Proposed IUCN Conservation Assessment

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

Voucher specimens - Thailand

Middleton et al. 5021, Chiang Mai, c.10 km south of Doi Ang Khang (E); Suvarnasuddhi 23, Nan,Doi Phu Ka (P).

Voucher specimens - Laos

Vidal 1013B, Champasak, Phou Thevada (P); Vidal 1619, Xieng Khouang (P).