Family

Pteridaceae, subfamily Cheilanthoideae

Nomenclature

Parahemionitis cordata (Roxb. ex Hook. & Grev.) Fraser-Jenk., New Sp. Syndr. Indian Pteridol. 187. 1997. – Hemionitis cordata Roxb. ex Hook. & Grev., Icon. Filic.: t. 64. 1828.

Hemionitis arifolia (Burm.f.) T.Moore, Index Filic.: 114. 1859; Bedd., Handb. Ferns Brit. India: 413, f. 245. 1883; Tardieu & C.Chr., Fl. Indo-Chine 7(2): 189. 1940; Holttum, Rev. Fl. Malaya ed. 1, 2: 596. 1955 [‘1954’]; Tagawa & K.Iwats., Acta Phytotax. Geobot. 25: 19. 1971; Tagawa & K.Iwats., Fl. Thailand 3: 191. 1985; Boonkerd & Pollawatn, Pterid. Thailand: 101, 123. 2000; Newman et al., Checkl. Vasc. Pl. Lao PDR: 31. 2007. – Asplenium arifolium Burm.f., Fl. Indica: 231. 1768.

Description

Rhizome short, suberect, covered with scales; scales narrow, concolorous, brown, 2–3 mm long, entire. Stipes deep castaneous to nearly black, grooved on adaxial surface, up to 20 cm long in fertile and up to 8 cm in sterile fronds, scaly or hairy throughout, hairs multicellular, coarse, up to 1.5 mm long. Laminae distinctly dimorphic; sterile lamina simple, narrowly ovate or oblong, round at apex, deeply cordate at base, entire, up to 7 by 4 cm; thickly papyraceous to chartaceous, bearing scales and hairs on lower surface, densely hairy at margin with short multicellular hairs; costa raised on lower surface, the veins reticulate without free veinlets, obscure; fertile lobes oblong-subdeltoid, up to 5 by 3 cm, moderately acute at apex, cordate at base, the two basal lobes triangular, moderately acute, entire; thinner than the sterile. Sporangia placed along veins, forming a network all over the lower surface, without any protection but scales mixed with sporangia .

Distribution in Thailand

NORTHERN: Chiang Mai, Phitsanulok; NORTH-EASTERN: Khon Kaen; EASTERN: Ubon Ratchathani, SOUTH-EASTERN: Chon Buri; PENINSULAR: Surat Thani, Krabi, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung.

Distribution in Laos

Attopeau, Champasak.

Distribution in Cambodia

Kampot, Kompong Cham, Kompong Chhnang, Pursat, Siem Riep.

Wider Distribution

Sri Lanka, S & NE. India, S China, Indochina, W Malesia to the Philippines.

Ecology

On muddy rocks or terrestrial by paths in dense forests at low to medium altitudes below 600 m throughout the country but rather rare.

Proposed IUCN Conservation Assessment

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

Voucher specimens - Thailand

Middleton et al. 5184, Ubon Ratchathani, Phu Chong Nayoi National Park (E); Larsen et al. 31241, Krabi, Ao Luk (P); Maxwell 86-756, Phatthalung, Tamote Falls Reserve (P).

Voucher specimens - Laos

Poilane 15969, Attopeu, between Phu Da Phuk & Mong Mai (P).

Voucher specimens - Cambodia

Poilane 15058, Pursat, between Kom Nom and Trassay (P); Long et al CL228, Siem Reap (P).