Family

Oleandraceae

Nomenclature

Oleandra neriiformis Cav., Anales Hist. Nat. 2: 115. 1799; C.Presl, Epimel. Bot.: 42. 1851. Fée, Mém. Foug., 5. Gen. Filic.: 304. 1852. Hook., Sp. Fil.: 156. 1862; Bedd., Handb. Ferns Brit. India: 285, f. 146. 1883; Tardieu & C.Chr., Fl. Indo-Chine 7(2): 283. 1940.

Aspidium pistillare Sw., Schrad. J. Bot. 1800(2): 30. 1801; Tagawa & K.Iwats., Fl. Thailand 3: 182. 1985. – Oleandra pistillaris (Sw.) C.Chr., Index Fil. Suppl. III: 132. 1934; Holttum, Rev. Fl. Malaya ed. 1, 2: 386, f. 224. 1955 [‘1954’]; Tagawa & K.Iwats., Acta Phytotax. Geobot. 23: 49. 1968; Tagawa & K.Iwats., Fl. Thailand 3: 182. 1985; Boonkerd & Pollawatn, Pterid. Thailand: 239. 2000; Dy Phon, Dictionary of Plants used in Cambodia: 479. 2000.

Description

Rhizome thick, up to 1 cm diam., stiff, erect or suberect, branching, with long stiff prop roots, forming bushes, bearing several fronds in groups, the groups separated remotely; scales appressed, imbricate, oblong, round to moderately cuneate at both edges, up to 5 by 1.8 mm, dark brown, younger ones bearing pale and hairy tails. Fronds simple. Stipes short, on phyllopodia up to 5 mm high, scaly. Laminae simple, oblanceolate, oblong or narrowly elliptic, up to 40 by 3 cm, long-acuminate, gradually narrowing towards base, the margin subentire or a little wavy; midrib raised below, hairy and scaly or glabrescent; laminar surface hairy all over to glabrous, margin glabrous, papyraceous, stiff, deep green. Sori in one irregular row usually close to midrib; indusia glabrous , up to 2 mm broad.

Distribution in Thailand

SOUTH-WESTERN: Prachuap Khiri Khan; PENINSULAR: Krabi, Trang, Songkhla, Yala.

Distribution in Cambodia

Kampot.

Wider Distribution

Malesia.

Ecology

On tree trunks or forming bushes in forests at 700–1300 m alt.

Proposed IUCN Conservation Assessment

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

Notes

In Cambodia it is reputed to have medicinal properties against snakebite (Dy Phon, 2000).

Voucher specimens - Thailand

Middleton et al. 5229, Songkhla, Ton Nga Chang Wildlife Sanctuary (E).

Voucher specimens - Cambodia

Middleton & Meng 617, Kampot, Bokor National Park (A, P).