Family

Pteridaceae, subfamily Pteridoideae

Nomenclature

Pteris stenophylla Wall. ex Hook. & Grev., Icon. Filic.: t. 130. 1829; Tardieu & C.Chr., Fl. Indo-Chine 7(2): 145. 1940; Tagawa & K.Iwats., SouthE. Asian Stud. 5: 79. 1967; Tagawa & K.Iwats., Fl. Thailand 3: 257. 1985; Boonkerd & Pollawatn, Pterid. Thailand: 131. 2000; Newman et al., Checkl. Vasc. Pl. Lao PDR: 31. 2007. – Pteris pellucida var. stenophylla (Wall. ex Hook. & Grev.) Bedd., Handb. Ferns Brit. India: 107. 1883.

Description

Rhizome very short creeping, bearing numerous fronds in a tuft. Stipes up to 20 cm long, dark brown and scaly at base, stramineous or brownish on undersurface upwards, glabrescent. Laminae simple or bearing a pair of lateral pinnae just like the simple lamina, linear, up to 51.5(–60) by 2.1 cm, fertile ones narrower, up to 1 cm broad, gradually narrowing upwards, the margin subentire and undulate in lower part, serrate upwards, the dentation oblique, rather sharp, papyraceous or thicker, green on upper surface, usually with pale strand along midribs; midribs raised on both surfaces, grooved on upper surface, glabrous; veins nearly patent or slightly ascending, simple or forked, reaching the margin. Sori along the margin of upper part of fertile fronds.

Distribution in Thailand

NORTHERN: Nan; NORTH-EASTERN Loei; SOUTH-WESTERN: Phetchaburi.

Distribution in Laos

Champasak, Luang Phabang.

Wider Distribution

N India and Laos. Also recorded from Malesia but doubtful.

Ecology

On rather dry mountain slopes in dense evergreen forests at about 800 m alt.

Proposed IUCN Conservation Assessment

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

Voucher specimens - Laos

Staples et al. 1500A, Luang Phabang, Phu Souang Mt. (E).