Family

Pteridaceae, subfamily Cheilanthoideae

Nomenclature

Cheilanthes pseudofarinosa (Ching & S.K.Wu) K.Iwats., Fl. Thailand 3: 618. 1989; Boonkerd & Pollawatn, Pterid. Thailand: 121. 2000. – Aleuritopteris pseudofarinosa Ching & S.K.Wu, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 19: 72. 1981; S.K.Wu, Mem. Fac. Sci. Kyoto Univ. Biol. 8: 153. 1983.

Cheilanthes farinosa auct. non (Forssk.) Kaulf.: Tagawa & K.Iwats., Fl. Thailand 3: 203. 1985, p.p.

Description

Rhizome short, scaly at apex; scales linear-lanceolate, stiff, dark in the centre and light brown at entire margin, up to 3.5 mm long, 0.4 mm wide. Stipes castaneous to dark brown, scaly at base, 2.5–11 cm long. Laminae oblong-subtriangular, bipinnatifid, sometimes bipinnate at base, basiscopic pinnules enlarged and deeply lobed, 2.2–11.7 cm long, 1.7–4.5 cm wide; pinnae 0.9–2.2 cm long, 0.6–2.2 cm wide, lowermost pinnae with an enlarged basiscopic lobe, lowermost of next above the largest; densely covered with white farina beneath, no scales on costae or costules. Indusia broad, interrupted, fimbriate .

Distribution in Thailand

NORTHERN: Chiang Mai; SOUTH-EASTERN: Chanthaburi.

Wider Distribution

Nepal, India, China (S of Yangtze River), and the Philippines.

Ecology

On rather dry rocks in light shade in mixed decidudus forests.

Proposed IUCN Conservation Assessment

Data Deficient (DD). There is considerable taxonomic confusion in the genus Cheilanthes making accurate conservation assessments of many of the species difficult.

Notes

Cheilanthes is a difficult genus that needs more taxonomic research.  We are using the the concept of Cheilanthes pseudofarinosa from part 4 of the Flora of Thailand but there are questions as to whether this is a species distinct from Cheilanthes anceps Blanf.

Voucher specimens - Thailand

Middleton et al. 4715, Chanthaburi, Khao Soi Dao Wildlife Sanctuary (E); Middleton et al. 4875, Chiang Mai, Doi Suthep (E); Middleton et al. 4880, Chiang Mai, Doi Inthanon National Park (E).