Family

Pteridaceae, subfamily Pteridoideae

Nomenclature

Pteris vittata L., Sp. Pl.: 1074. 1753; Tardieu & C.Chr., Fl. Indo-Chine 7(2): 143. 1939; Holttum, Rev. Fl. Malaya ed. 1, 2: 396, f. 230. 1955 [‘1954’]; Holttum, Dansk Bot. Ark. 20: 27. 1961; Holttum, Dansk Bot. Ark 23: 236. 1965; Tagawa & K.Iwats., SouthE. Asian Stud. 3(3): 82. 1965; Tagawa & K.Iwats., SouthE. Asian Stud. 5: 79. 1967; Tagawa & K.Iwats., Fl. Thailand 3: 233. 1985; Boonkerd & Pollawatn, Pterid. Thailand: 132. 2000.

Pteris longifolia auct. non Retz.: Bedd., Handb. Ferns Brit. India: 106, f. 55. 1883; Christ, Bot. Tidsskr, 24: 106. 1901; C.Chr., Bot Tidsskr. 32: 348. 1916; Bonap., Notes Ptérid. 14: 62. 1923.

Pteris vitala orth. var.: Newman et al., Checkl. Vasc. Pl. Lao PDR: 31. 2007.

Description

Rhizome short, ascending, bearing a tuft of fronds, scaly; scales light brown, narrow, up to 5 mm long. Stipes up to 20 cm long, densely scaly on lower part, stramineous. Laminae imparipinnate, oblanceolate, widest at upper portion; pinnae simple, lower ones gradually becoming smaller downwards to mere auricles, middle or upper ones linear, nearly straight, up to 15 cm by 8–12 mm, sessile and cordate at base, caudately long-acuminate at apex, serrate at non-soriferous margin; terminal pinnae usually much longer, up to 20 cm or more long, about 1 cm broad; rachis grooved on upper surface, minutely scaly; veins forked, free except when connected by soral commissure. Sori marginal, continuous along margin of pinnae; indusia thin, pale.

Distribution in Thailand

NORTHERN: Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lamphun, Lampang, Tak; NORTH-EASTERN: Loei; SOUTH-WESTERN: Kanchanaburi; CENTRAL: Saraburi; SOUTH-EASTERN: Chanthaburi, Trat; PENINSULAR: Surat Thani, Phangnga, Krabi, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Trang, Satun, Songkhla,Yala.

Distribution in Laos

Luang Phrabang.

Distribution in Cambodia

Sihanoukville.

Wider Distribution

Tropics and subtropics of the Old World, north to S Japan.

Ecology

On rather wet sandy ground or on muddy rocks usually along rivers in shade below 800 m alt.  Also on limestone rocks in fissures and in mortar on walls.

Proposed IUCN Conservation Assessment

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

Voucher specimens - Thailand

Middleton et al. 4524, Chiang Mai, Doi Chiang Dao Wildlife Sanctuary (E); Middleton et al. 4777, Kanchanaburi, Thong Pha Phum National Park (E); Middleton et al. 4821, Lamphun, Mae Ping National Park (E).

Voucher specimens - Cambodia

Schnell 10103 bis, Sihanoukville (P), pro parte.