Family

Gleicheniaceae

Nomenclature

Dicranopteris speciosa (C.Presl) Holttum, Reinwardtia 4: 273. 1957; Holttum, Fl. Males., Ser. II, Pterid. 1: 32, f. 12d & 15c & d. 1959; Tagawa & K.Iwats., SouthE. Asian Stud. 5: 36. 1967; Tagawa & K.Iwats., Fl. Thailand 3: 55. 1979; Boonkerd & Pollawatn, Pterid. Thailand: 79. 2000. – Hicriopteris speciosa C.Presl, Epimel. Bot.: 27. 1851 [‘1849’].

Gleichenia opposita Alderw., Bull. Jard. Bot. Buitenzorg, Ser. 2, 11: 13. 1913; Holttum, Rev. Fl. Malaya ed. 1, 2: 70, f. 14f. 1955 [‘1954’].

Description

Terrestrial. Rhizome dichotomously branched, near the apex protected by peltate scales, widely creeping, 3–5 mm in diameter, glabrescent or hairy at apex, bearing fronds remotely. Fronds of mature plants usually with indefinite growth in length, bearing primary branches in pairs. Stipes brown to pale castaneous, up to 1 m long below the first fork, sparsely hairy or glabrescent. Primary rachis-branches several times unequally forked; ultimate branches narrowly lanceolate, up to 25 cm long, 8 cm wide; ultimate segments linear, up to 4 cm long, 3 mm broad, round to retuse at apex, entire at margin; veins pinnate, veinlets distinct on both surfaces, texture rigid, green, glaucous on lower surface. Sori in a single rather irregular row at each side of costules.

Distribution in Thailand

PENINSULAR: Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Trang.

Wider Distribution

Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra and Moluccas.

Ecology

On dry slopes along highways in. open areas at about 100 m alt.

Proposed IUCN Conservation Assessment

Least Concern (LC). This species is very widespread.

Voucher specimens - Thailand

Middleton et al. 5536, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Khao Luang National Park (E).