Family

Polypodiaceae

Nomenclature

Pyrrosia nummularifolia (Sw.) Ching, Bull. Chin. Bot. Soc. 1: 47. 1935; Holttum, Rev. Fl. Malaya ed. 1, 2: 144, f. 59. 1955 [‘1954’]; Tagawa & K.Iwats., SouthE Asian Stud. 3(3): 75. 1965; Tagawa & K.Iwats., SouthE. Asian Stud. 5: 47. 1967; Tagawa & K.Iwats., Acta Phytotax. Geobot. 23: 52. 1968; Hovenkamp, Leiden Bot. Ser.: 214, f. 23. 1986; Tagawa & K.Iwats., Fl. Thailand 3: 494. 1989; Hovenkamp, Fl. Males., Ser. II, Ferns and Fern Allies 3: 165. 1998; Boonkerd & Pollawatn, Pterid. Thailand: 260, 287. 2000. – Acrostichum nummularifolium Sw., Syn. Fil.: 191, 419, t. 2, f. 1. 1806. – Niphobolus nummularifolius (Sw.) J.Sm., J. Bot. 3: 396. 1841; Bedd., Handb. Ferns Brit. India: 334.f. 183. 1883. – Type: Thunberg s.n. (S), Java.

Description

Rhizome long creeping, 0.6–1.6 mm diam., bearing two rows of almost imbricate fronds, densely scaly throughout; scales linear, 3.3–6 by 0.3–0.7 mm, pale brown with deep brown centre, hairy at margin, marginal hairs longer. Fronds simple, distinctly dimorphic. Sterile fronds: stipes very short, up to 3 mm long, scaly at base; laminae almost circular to broadly oblong, round at apex, (0.8–)1.5–2.5(–5) cm long; midrib distinct in lower half of the upper surface, veins completely hidden, anastomosing, with free included veinlets; fleshy, upper surface stellate hairy or glabrescent, lower surface densely hairy with stellate hairs. Fertile fronds: stipes 1–1.5 cm long, slender; laminae lanceolate, up to 7 by 0.8 cm, round to moderately acute at apex, gradually narrowing towards base. Sporangia covering the whole undersurface, sori embedded in thick layer of hairs.

Distribution in Thailand

SOUTH-WESTERN: Kanchanaburi; PENINSULAR: Surat Thani, Phangnga, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Trang, Satun, Yala.

Wider Distribution

India, Burma,W Malesia east to the Philippines, Sulawesi and Lesser Sunda Islands.

Ecology

Epiphytic on tree trunks or on rocks in light shade or in open places usually at low altitudes, rather common.

Proposed IUCN Conservation Assessment

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

Voucher specimens - Thailand

Middleton et al. 4376, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Khao Luang National Park (E); Middleton et al. 5417, Phatthalung, Lan Mom Jui Waterfall (E).