Family

Polypodiaceae

Nomenclature

Pyrrosia flocculosa (D.Don) Ching, Bull. Chin. Bot. Soc. 1:66. 1935; Tardieu & C.Chr., Fl. Indo-Chine .7(2): 512. 1941; Tagawa & K.Iwats., Acta Phytotax. Geobot. 24: 61. 1969; Hovenkamp, Leiden Bot. Ser. 9: 179, f. 19. 1986; Tagawa & K.Iwats., Fl. Thailand 3: 503. 1989; Boonkerd & Pollawatn, Pterid. Thailand: 285. 2000. – Polypodium flocculosum D.Don, Prodr. Fl. Nepal.: 1. 1825. – Niphobolus flocculosus (D.Don) Spreng., Syst. 4:45. 1827; Bedd., Handb. Ferns Brit. India: 331, f. 180. 1883.

Description

Rhizome short creeping bearing closely spaced fronds, densely scaly; scales basally attached, cordate at base, linear-subtriangular, gradually narrowing towards apex, entire, usually up to 8 by 0.9 mm, concolorous golden brown or more or less bi-coloured with brown central portion and pale brown margin. Fronds simple. Stipes up to 7 cm long, very narrowly winged, covered with pale stellate hairs. Laminae subquadrangular to broadly spathulate, acute to rotundate at apex, rather suddenly broadly cuneate at base, up to 20 by 6.5 cm; midrib raised beneath, main veins more or less visible, other veins invisible, copiously anastomosing; thick, upper surface deep green, very sparsely hairy with pale stellate hairs, with hydathodes, lower surface densely covered with short-armed stellate hairs. Sori round, small, more or less distinct, about 1 mm diam., covering the under surface of fronds from the upper portion downwards, remaining narrow marginal sterile portion.

Distribution in Thailand

NORTHERN: Chiang Mai, Nan, Tak.

Wider Distribution

Himalayas, Burma and Vietnam.

Ecology

Epiphytic in evergreen forests along stream, about 750 m alt.

Proposed IUCN Conservation Assessment

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

Voucher specimens - Thailand

Middleton et al. 4954, Chiang Mai, Doi Pha Ti Do (E); Srisanga 2557, Nan (E, QBG); Middleton & Triboun 4828, Tak, Road west to Mae Ramad (E).