Family

Polypodiaceae

Nomenclature

Arthromeris amplexifolia (Christ) Ching, Contr. Inst. Biol. Nat. Acad. Peiping 2: 94. 1933; Tardieu & C.Chr., Fl. Indo-Chine 7(2): 487, f. 56, 2–3. 1941; Tagawa, J. Jap. Bot. 38: 330. 1963; Tagawa & K.Iwats., SouthE. Asian Stud. 5: 60. 1967; Tagawa & K.Iwats., Fl. Thailand 3: 565, f. 57.1–2. 1989; Boonkerd & Pollawatn, Pterid. Thailand: 262. 2000; Newman et al., Checkl. Vasc. Pl. Lao PDR: 29. 2007. – Polypodium amplexifolium Christ, J. Bot. sér. 2, 1: 269. 1908.

Description

Epiphytic or lithophytic. Rhizome long creeping, about 5 mm diam., densely covered with scales throughout; scales narrowly subtriangular, gradually narrowing from peltate base to acuminate apex, up to 8 by 1.5 mm, white with pale brown base, minutely toothed at margin. Stipes stramineous to castaneous, densely scaly at base, glabrous upwards, 10–20 cm long. Laminae oblong in outline, 20–40 by up to 33 cm, imparipinnate; rachis pale castaneous, glabrous; lateral pinnae 2–7 pairs, subopposite, caudately acuminate at apex, deeply cordate and amplexicaulous at base, 8–18 by 1.5–3.5 cm, the edges subentire, margined with cartilaginous membrane; terminal pinna rounded to cordate at base, gradually narrowing upwards, up to 19 by 3.5 cm; main veins 5–8 mm remote, veins copiously anastomosing with many included veinlets; herbaceous, glabrous, light green, glaucous beneath. Sori at junction of several veinlets, round, 2–3 mm diam., medial, superficial .

Distribution in Thailand

NORTHERN: Chiang Mai; PENINSULAR: Nakhon Si Thammarat.

Distribution in Laos

Xieng Khouang.

Wider Distribution

Vietnam, Laos.

Ecology

On mossy tree trunks or muddy crevices of moist cliffs in dense evergreen forests at 800–1800 m alt.

Proposed IUCN Conservation Assessment

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

Voucher specimens - Thailand

Middleton et al. 5015, Chiang Mai, Doi Chiang Dao Wildlife Sanctuary (E).