Family

Aspleniaceae

Nomenclature

Asplenium ensiforme Wall. ex Hook. & Grev., Icon. Filic.: t. 71. 1829; Bedd., Handb. Ferns Brit. India: 141, f. 71. 1883; Hosseus, Beih. Bot. Centralbl. 28(2): 364. 1911; C.Chr., Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 26: 332. 1931; Tardieu & C.Chr., Fl. Indo-Chine 7(2): 221. 1940; Tagawa & K.Iwats., SouthE. Asian Stud. 5: 85. 1967; Tagawa & K.Iwats., Fl. Thailand 3: 266. 1985; Boonkerd & Pollawatn, Pterid. Thailand: 110, 140. 2000.

Description

Epiphytic or lithophytic. Rhizome short, suberect, bearing fronds in a tuft, scaly at apex; scales gradually narrowing from base towards apex, dark reddish brown, concolorous, about 6 by 1 mm at base, somewhat stiff, entire, clathrate with long cells. Stipes dark, 2–4 cm long, narrowly winged nearly to the base. Frond simple, entire or rarely irregularly waved at margin, spathulate, broadest in upper quarter, narrowing towards caudately acuminate apex, gradually narrowing and attenuate at base, 12–41 by 1–4 cm, subcoriaceous, glabrous; midrib distinctly raised on both surfaces, grooved on upper surface; lateral veins ascending, forming angles of about 20–30° to midrib, forked near base, visible on lower surface, hardly so above. Sori oblique, elongate along acroscopic branches of veins, 0.9–3 cm long; indusia opaque, thick in lower part but with thin and translucent irregular and hairy margin .

Distribution in Thailand

NORTHERN: Chiang Mai, Phitsanulok; NORTH-EASTERN: Loei.

Distribution in Laos

Champasak.

Distribution in Cambodia

Unspecified.

Wider Distribution

Sri Lanka, India, SW China and Indochina, extending north to southern edge of Japan.

Ecology

On tree-trunks or on rocks in lower montane forests at high altitudes.

Proposed IUCN Conservation Assessment

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

Voucher specimens - Thailand

Middleton et al. 4470, Chiang Mai, Doi Suthep-Doi Pui National Park (E); Middleton et al. 4886, Chiang Mai, Doi Inthanon National Park (E); Middleton et al. 5091, Phitsanulok, Phu Hin Rong Kla National Park (E); Middleton et al. 5148, Loei, Phu Luang Wildlife Sanctuary (E).

Voucher specimens - Laos

Poilane 28349, Champasak, Pakson (P).

Voucher specimens - Cambodia

Poilane s.n., Cambodia s.l. (P [P01461960]).