Family

Tectariaceae

Nomenclature

Tectaria simonsii (Baker) Ching, Sinensia 2: 32, pl. 13. 1931; Tardieu & C.Chr., Fl. Indo-Chine 7(2): 421. 1941; Tagawa & K.Iwats., SouthE. Asian Stud. 5: 98. 1967; Tagawa & K.Iwats., Fl. Thailand 3: 374, f. 35.1–3. 1988; Holttum, Fl. Males., Ser. II, Pterid. 2: 67. 1991; Boonkerd & Pollawatn, Pterid. Thailand: 217. 2000. – Nephrodium simonsii Baker, Syn. Fil.: 504. 1874. – Aspidium simonsii (Baker) Bedd., Suppl. Ferns Brit. Ind.:15, t. 367. 1876; Bedd., Handb. Ferns Brit. India: 218. 1883. – Type: India, Nuka & Naga Hills, Simons 31 (K). Note Ching 1931 claims type is Simons 301.

Aspidium longicrure Christ ex Hu & Ching, Icon. Filic. 1: 14, t. 7. 1930.

Description

Rhizome short, creeping or ascending, scaly at apex; scales linear-subtriangular, up to 15 by 1.3 mm, dark brown to nearly black, stiff, entire. Stipes 40–60 cm long, dark purple to nearly black, more or less polished, minutely pubescent throughout. Laminae subpentagonal, bipinnate to tripinnatifid, 30–40 by 25–40 cm; lateral pinnae 2–4 pairs, basal pinnae up to 25 cm long and wide, stalked, with a few free pinnules like the upper pinnae, which are stalked or sessile, oblanceolate, caudate at apex, rounded at base, up to 23 by 5 cm, with one or two lateral lobes, subentire or irregularly crenulate, apical pinna subdeltoid-lanceolate, broadest at base, lobed in lower part; thin, deep-green; costa of lower pinnae nearly black, pubescent, of upper pinnae like main, veins paler, distinctly raised beneath, other veins slightly raised on both surfaces, glabrescent, forming copious anastomosis with many included free veinlets. Sori at apex or at junction of veinlets, irregularly arranged in 2–5 rows between main veins, round or often elongate and united to the next one, usually up to 0.8 mm diam.; indusia small, caducous .

Distribution in Thailand

NORTHERN: Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lampang, Phitsanulok; SOUTH-WESTERN: Uthai Thani, Kanchanaburi; SOUTH-EASTERN: Chon Buri, Chanthaburi.

Wider Distribution

Sikkim, India (Assam) to S China, N Vietnam, Taiwan and the Ryukyus.

Ecology

On mountain slopes in shady places at medium altitudes.

Proposed IUCN Conservation Assessment

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

Notes

Very variable in frond architecture.

Voucher specimens - Thailand

Middleton et al. 4762 & 4763, Kanchanaburi, Khao Laem National Park (E).