Family

Tectariaceae

Nomenclature

Tectaria herpetocaulos Holttum, Dansk Bot. Ark. 23: 241. 1965; Holttum, Rev. Fl. Malaya, ed. 2, 2: 636. 1968; Tagawa & K.Iwats., SouthE. Asian Stud. 5: 99. 1967; Tagawa & K.Iwats., Fl. Thailand 3: 379. 1988; Holttum, Fl. Males., Ser. II, Pterid. 2: 89. 1991; Boonkerd & Pollawatn, Pterid. Thailand: 213. 2000; Newman et al., Checkl. Vasc. Pl. Lao PDR: 32. 2007. – Type: B.Molesworth-Allen 4454, Peninsular Malaysia, Perak, Cameron Highlands road, 600 m (K).

Description

Description adapted from Holttum, Fl. Males., Ser. II, Pterid. 2: 89. 1991.
Rhizome long creeping, 6–10 mm diam. when dry, stipes c.1.5 cm apart; scales 5 x 1 mm, base cordate, dark glossy with paler fragile edges. Stipes 30–80 cm long, lightly flushed with red, glabrescent, scales near base as those on rhizome but 10 mm long. Laminae consisting of 1–4 pairs of pinnae and pinna-like apex; apex to 21 x 11 cm, entire or rarely crenate, base cuneate, apex abruptly short- to long-acuminate; upper pinnae subsessile, to 21 x 6 cm with asymmetric base rounded on the basiscopic side; basal pinnae stalked, to 30 x 10 cm, asymmetric with a single basiscopic lobe to 20 x 6 cm (largest fronds may have 2 pairs of pinnae with basal lobes) or lobe absent; main veins pale on lower surface, 8–10 mm apart along costae, at a wide angle and upcurved, cross veins irregular; lower surface of costae and main veins bearing sparse short hairs, upper surface of costae densely short hairy. Sori mostly not on free veins in areoles, rather small, in a single row on each side of main veins but with additional ones irregularly between the rows; indusia thin, shrivelling but persistent, usually glabrous or with few short hairs.

Distribution in Thailand

NORTHERN: Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lampang, Tak; NORTH-EASTERN: Loei; EASTERN: Nakhon Ratchasima; SOUTH-WESTERN: Kanchanaburi, Phetchaburi; SOUTH-EASTERN: Chanthaburi; PENINSULAR: Chumphon, Ranong, Surat Thani, Krabi.

Distribution in Laos

Luang Phrabang.

Wider Distribution

S India, Burma, Indochina and W Malaysia.

Ecology

On mountain slopes in dense forests at 500–1100 m alt.

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. 4528, Chiang Mai, Doi Chiang Dao Wildlife Sanctuary (E); Middleton et al. 4653, Chanthaburi, Namtok Phlio National Park (E); Middleton et al. 4696 & 4701, Chanthaburi, Khao Soi Dao Wildlife Sanctuary (E).