Family

Schizaeaceae

Nomenclature

Schizaea dichotoma (L.) Sm., Mém. Acad. Roy. Sci. (Turin) 5: 422, t. 9. 1793; Bedd., Handb. Ferns Brit. India: 452, f. 278. 1883; Christ, Bot. Tidsskr. 24: 112. 1901; C.Chr., Bot. Tiddsskr. 32: 349. 1916; E.Smith, J. Siam Soc. Nat. Hist. Suppl. 8: 8. 1929; Tardieu & C.Chr., Fl. Indo-Chine 7(2): 43. 1939; Holttum, Rev. Fl. Malaya ed. 1, 2: 50 f. 6. 1955 [‘1954’]; Holttum, Fl. Males., Ser. II, Pterid. 1: 41, f. 1, 2 & 4a–d. 1959; Holttum, Dansk Bot. Ark. 20: 15. 1961; Holttum, Dansk Bot. Ark. 23: 228. 1965; Tagawa & K.Iwats., Fl. Thailand 3: 57. 1979; Jaman & Umi Kalsom, Fl. Pen. Malaysia, Ser. I, Ferns & Lycoph. 1: 112. 2010; Boonkerd & Pollawatn, Pterid. Thailand: 35, 83. 2000. – Acrostichum dichotomum L., Sp. Pl. 1068. 1753. – Type: Herb. Sloane s.n., China (BM).

Schizaea biroi Richter, Math. Term. Ert. 29: 1074, t. 10. 1915; Ching, Fl. Reipubl. Popularis Sin. 2: 115. 1959.

Description

Rhizome creeping, deep in the earth, densely covered with shining brown hairs. Stipes 10–30 cm long, narrowly winged except for the basal portion. Laminae 7–20 cm long and wide, branching dichotomously 2–6 times, first branches like the upper part of stipes, the distal branches with wider wings to form narrow laminae of about 3–4 mm in width. Sporangia-bearing lobes at apex of the distal branches, 5–10 pairs, forming distinct sorophores of 2–5 mm long, the lowest lobes 3–4 mm long, upper ones gradually becoming smaller.

Distribution in Thailand

EASTERN: Nakhon Ratchasima; SOUTH-WESTERN: Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan; SOUTH-EASTERN: Chon Buri, Trat; PENINSULAR: Chumphon, Surat Thani, Phangnga, Krabi, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Trang, Satun, Songkhla, Narathiwat.

Wider Distribution

Tropics of Old World, north to the Ryukyus, west to Madagascar, and southeast to Polynesia, New Zealand and Australia.

Ecology

On open grassland or in light shade at low altitudes.

Proposed IUCN Conservation Assessment

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

Voucher specimens - Thailand

Middleton et al. 4614, Trat, Ko Chang, Trail from Khlong Phlu Ranger Station (E); Watthana 2094, Chumphon (CMU); Middleton et al. 5403, Phatthalung, Khao Kram Waterfall (E).

Voucher specimens - Cambodia