Volume 3 > Part 4 > Year 1989 > Page 494 > Polypodiaceae > Pyrrosia

2. Pyrrosia nummulariifolia (Sw.) Ching

Bull. Chin. Bot. Soc. 1; 47. 1935; Holttum, Rev. Fl. Malaya 2: 144. f. 59. 1955; Tagawa & K.Iwats., S.E. Asian Stud. 3(3): 75. 1965; 5: 47. 1967; Acta Phytotax. Geobot. 23: 52. 1968; Hovenkamp, Leiden. Bot. Ser. 9: 214. f. 23. 1986.— 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.

Accepted Name : This is currently accepted.

Description : Rhizome long-creeping, about 1.5 mm diam., bearing two rows of close to imbricate fronds, densely scaly throughout; scales linear, up to 6 by 0.6 mm, pale brown with deep brown center, hairy at margin, marginal hairs longer. Fronds distinctly dimorphic. Sterile fronds: stipes very short, up to 3 mm long, scaly at base; laminae almost circular to broadly oblong, round at apex 1.5–2.5 cm long; anastomosing; fleshly, upper surface stellate hairly or glabrecent, 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 under surface, sori embedded in thick layer of hairs.

Thailand : SOUTH-WESTERN: Kanchanaburi (Wangka); PENINSULAR: Surat Thani (Ban Na, Bang Bao), Phangnga, Nakhon Si Thammarat (Khao Luang), Khiriwong, Thung Song), Trang (Khao Chong, Khao Khao), Satun (Khuan Kalong, Khlong Tan, Pulang Kapong), Yala (Bannang Sata).

Distribution : India, Burma, W Malesia (type from Java) east to the Philippines, Celebes 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.

Notes: This species is similar in appearance to Drymoglossum. In sterile fronds, this species is rather difficult to be distinguished from D. piloselloides, though the construction of the fertile fronds is quite different, and the under surface of this species is thickly coated by wooly brown hairs. Pyrrosia nummularifolia grows usually in lowlands in Peninsular, closely attached to tree-trunks or on rocks in moist shady places. In such habit, this species is rather distinct from the other species of this genus.

E-version notes : For more details see Ferns of Thailand, Laos and Cambodia.