Family

Aspleniaceae

Nomenclature

Asplenium normale D.Don, Prodr. Fl. Nepal.: 7. 1825; Bedd., Handb. Ferns Brit. India: 144. 1883; Tardieu & C.Chr., Fl. Indo-Chine 7(2): 225. 1940; Holttum, Rev. Fl. Malaya ed. 1, 2: 436, f. 254. 1955 [‘1954’]; Holttum, Dansk Bot. Ark. 20: 28. 1961; Holttum, Dansk Bot. Ark. 23: 236. 1965; Tagawa & K.Iwats., SouthE. Asian Stud. 5: 8. 1967; Tagawa & K.Iwats., Fl. Thailand 3: 280. 1985; Boonkerd & Pollawatn, Pterid. Thailand: 111, 112, 143. 2000; Newman et al., Checkl. Vasc. Pl. Lao PDR: 25. 2007. – Type: Buchanan-Hamilton, Nepal, Narainhetty (holotype BM, Morton photograph 6675).

Description

Terrestrial, lithophytic or epiphytic. Rhizome short, erect, scaly; scales gradually narrowing from base towards hair-pointed apex, up to 4 by 0.7 mm, bicoloured, the central portion black, with longitudinal cells, the edges brown to dark brown. Stipes very deep castaneous to nearly black, more or less polished, up to 15 cm long, usually about 10 cm long, grooved with two low but distinct ridges on adaxial surface. Laminae lanceolate to narrower, pinnate, slightly narrowing at base, gradually narrowing upwards, caudately acuminate at apex, up to 50 by 4.5 cm; rachis wingless throughout, viviparous; lateral pinnae up to 57 pairs, sessile, patent or slightly reflexed, oblong, rounded at apex, lobed to 1/5 way on both margins, narrowly cuneate at basiscopic base, auricled and truncate at acroscopic base, about 20 by 6 mm; midrib rarely viviparous; veinlets simple or forked, not running to the very top of lobes. Sori up to 3 mm long; indusia thin.

Distribution in Thailand

NORTHERN: Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Phitsanulok; NORTH-EASTERN; Phetchabun, Loei; SOUTH-WESTERN: Phetchaburi; CENTRAL; Nakhon Nayok; SOUTH-EASTERN: Chanthaburi; PENINSULAR: Krabi, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Songkhla.

Distribution in Laos

Champasak, Hua Phan, Khammouane, Luang Phrabang.

Distribution in Cambodia

Kompong Chhnang.

Wider Distribution

Old World tropics throughout, north to Himalaya and Japan.

Ecology

Terrestrial on rather dry slopes, humus-rich slopes or on Sphagnum-bog, on wet muddy rocks or in crevices of cliffs, or on mossy basal tree-trunks in lower montane forests usually at above 1000 m altitude.

Proposed IUCN Conservation Assessment

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

Voucher specimens - Thailand

Maxwell 00-399, Nakhon Nayok (CMU); Middleton et al. 4891, Chiang Mai, Doi Inthanon National Park (E); Middleton et al. 5086, Phitsanulok, Phu Hin Rong Kla National Park (E).

Voucher specimens - Cambodia

Poilane 28782, 28786 & 28810, Kompong Chhnang, Phnom Chom (P).