Volume 3 > Part 1 > Year 1979 > Page 59–60 > Schizaeaceae > Lygodium

1. Lygodium polystachyum Wall. ex T.Moorewfo-0001124448

Gard. Chron. 1859: 671; Bedd., Handb. Ferns Brit. India: 458. f. 284. 1883; Bonap., Notes Pteridol. 14: 70. 1923. E.Smith, J. Siam Soc. Nat: Hist. Suppl. 8: 8. 1929; C.Chr., Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 26: 329. 1931; Tardieu & C.Chr. in Fl. Indo-Chine [P.H. Lecomte et al.] 7(2): 40. 1939; Holttum, Rev. Fl. Malaya 2: 56. f. 10. 1955; in Fl. Males. Ser. II, Pterid. 1: 46. f. 5 c, 8 a–c. 1959; Dansk Bot. Ark. 20: 16. 1961; Ching Fl. Reipubl. Popularis Sin. 2: 110. 1959; Tagawa & K.Iwats., S.E. Asian Stud. 3(3): 72. 1965; 5: 34. 1967.

Accepted Name : This is currently accepted.

Description : Rhizome shortly creeping, densely covered with black hairs. Fronds climbing, sometimes more than 3 m tall; stipes 25–40 cm long, brown, densely hairy throughout, up to 4 mm diam., terete, wingless; hairs on stipes as well as on rachis setose, stiff, patent, multicellular, brown or paler, up to 2 mm long; rachis like the upper part of stipes, slender, paler, hairs less dense and short, terete; pinnae numerous, 10–20 cm apart; primary rachis-branches very short, usually 2–3 mm, the apex densely, covered with brown hairs, dormant but occasionally a little protruding in the lower pinnae; secondary rachis-branches 20–30 cm long, densely hairy with short unicellular hairs, wingless; leaflets 10 or more in pairs on secondary branches, with short stalks of 2 mm or so, oblong-subdeltoid, acute to moderately so at apex, subtruncate at base, indistinctly articulated at the junction of stalk and laminar part, pinnately lobed to half way, hairy on veins and margin, at most 7 cm long and 2.5 cm wide at basal widest portion; ultimate lobes round at apex, entire. Sporangia-bearing lobes narrow, 1.5–2 mm wide, 3–7 mm long; indusia densely covered with long pale hairs.

Thailand : NORTHERN: Chiang Rai (Doi Tung, Nam Mae Kok), Chiang Mai (Doi Chiang Dao, Huai San, Doi Suthep, Doi Buak Ha, Tha Ko), Lampang, Phitsanulok (Thung Salaeng Luang); NORTH-EASTERN: Phetchabun (Phu Miang); SOUTH-EASTERN: Chon Buri (Si Racha); CENTRAL: Nakhon Nayok; SOUTH-WESTERN: Prachuap Khiri Khan (Bang Saphan); PENINSULAR: Chumphon, Surat Thani (Khao Tha Phet, Huai Mut, Ban Don, Ko Tao), Nakhon Si Thammarat (Ronphibun, Lan Saka), Phuket (Thalang), Songkhla (Khao Pak), Trang (Khao Chong), Narathiwat (Bacho).

Distribution : Assam, Burma, SW China (Kwangsi, Yunnan), Indochina, Malaya (type).

Ecology : Climbing usually on dry grassy slopes in mixed forests at low or medium altitudes.

Vernacular : Kut khua (กูดเคือ), kut kong (กูดก๊อง)(Northern); liphao (ลิเภา), liphao yong (ลิเภาย่อง)(Peninsular).

Uses: Stems used in making handbage and hats.

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