Nomenclature

Cyclosorus prolifer (Retz.) Tardieu ex Tardieu & C.Chr., Notul. Syst. 7: 76. 1938; Tardieu & C.Chr., Fl. Indo-Chine 7(2): 389. 1941. – Hemionitis prolifera Retz., Obs. 6: 38. 1791. – Meniscium proliferum (Retz.) Sw., Syn. Fil.: 19, 206. 1806; K.Iwats., J. Jap. Bot. 38: 315. 1963; Tagawa & K.Iwats., Fl. Thailand 3: 435. 1988; Boonkerd & Pollawatn, Pterid. Thailand: 224. 2000; Newman et al., Checkl. Vasc. Pl. Lao PDR: 32. 2007. – Goniopteris prolifera (Retz.) Fée, Cr. Vase. Br. 1: 105. 1869; Bedd., Handb. Ferns Brit. India: 296, f. 153. 1883. – Ampelopteris prolifera (Retz.) Copel., Gen. Fil.: 144. 1947; Holttum, Rev. Fl. Malaya ed. 1, 2: 299. 1955 [‘1954’]; Holttum, Dansk Bot. Ark. 23: 233. 1965; Holttum, Fl. Males., Ser. II, Pterid. 1:387, f. 7d–f. 1982 [‘1981’]. Type: Koenig, S. India (GOET).

Description

Rhizome creeping, 4–10 mm diam.; scales ovate-subtriangular, up to 1.5 x 1 mm, brown, glabrous or hairy at margin. Stipes (4.4–)20–60 cm long, less than 5 cm long in young but fully soriferous frond, glabrous or hairy, scaly at base. Laminae (14–)55–110 by (7–)14–20(–30) cm, oblong-lanceolate; rachis proliferous, bearing a tuft of fronds and rooting at several places, with simple or bifurcate hairs; lateral pinnae 6–20 pairs, shortly stalked, linear-lanceolate, moderately acute to acute at apex, truncate at base, very shallowly incised, (3.5–)10–20 by 0.6–2 cm; lobes rectangular, oblique, truncate at apex; herbaceous, dark olive-green when dry; veins pinnate, veinlets about 10 pairs, 5–7 pairs, uniting to form a goniopteroid venation. Sori oblong or elongate along united veinlets, exindusiate; sporangia glabrous .

Distribution in Thailand

NORTHERN: Chiang Rai, Chang Mai; EASTERN: Chaiyaphum, Udon Thani; SOUTH-WESTERN: Kanchanaburi; CENTRAL: Saraburi.

Distribution in Laos

Champasak.

Distribution in Cambodia

Unspecified

Wider Distribution

Tropics and subtropics throughout the Old World.

Ecology

On moist banks near streams usually in open places or in light shade at low to medium altitudes.

Proposed IUCN Conservation Assessment

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

Notes

The smaller sizes in the description are mainly due to the fact that the bulbils can root and form independent fertile plants at a very small size.

Voucher specimens - Thailand

Middleton et al. 4773, Kanchanaburi, Thung Yai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary (E); Middleton et al. 4770, Kanchanaburi, Thung Yai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary (E).

Voucher specimens - Laos

Maxwell 98-144, Champasak (CMU).