Volume 3 > Part 3 > Year 1988 > Page 302 > Blechnaceae > Brainea

Brainea insignis (Hook.) J.Sm.wfo-0001122823

Cat. Kew Ferns: 5. 1856; Hook., Fil. Exot.: t. 38. 1859; Bedd., Handb. Ferns Brit. India: 395. f. 230. 1883; Christ, Bot. Tidsskr. 24: 107. 1901; C.Chr., Bot. Tidsskr. 32: 346. 1916; Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 26: 333. pl. 28. 1931; Tardieu & C.Chr. in Fl. Indo-Chine 7(2): 207. f. 25, 3–4. 1940; Holttum, Rev. Fl. Malaya 2: 450. 1955; Dansk Bot, Ark. 20: 29. 1961; 23: 237. 1965; Tagawa & K.Iwats., S.E. Asian Stud. 5: 89. 1967.— Bowringia insignis Hook., J. Bot. 5: 237. t. 2. 1853. Fig. 24. 5–6.

Accepted Name : Blechnum insigne (Hook.) C.M.Kuo
Taiwania 30: 67. 1985.

Description : Rhizome erect, forming a trunk of more than 50 cm in height, the apex densely covered with scales; scales narrow with orbicular basal portion about 2 mm in diam., up to 30 by 0.5–0.8 mm, entire, glabrous, brown with dark brown central strand. Stipe 15–30 cm long, thick, stramineous, densely scaly at base. Lamina simply pinnate, with numerous pinnae, dimorphic; sterile lamina 40–70 by 30 cm, oblong-lanceolate with acute apex; lateral pinnae close, straight, slightly ascending, linear, gradually narrowing towards the finely acute apex, sessile, decurrent at base in uppermost ones, broadly cuneate to deeply cordate towards base, the margin sharply serrate, up to 15 by 1.2 cm; veins close; papyraceous, green to paler; fertile frond narrower; lateral pinnae up to 10 by 0.5 cm.

Thailand : NORTHERN: Chiang Rai (Doi Pacho), Chiang Mai (Doi Chong, Doi Chiang Dao, Doi Phahom Pok, Doi Suthep, Doi Inthanon, Ban Yang, Pang Bo), Lamphun (Doi Khun Tan), Lampang (Doi Luang), Phrae (Mae Sai), Tak (Doi Musoe, Doi Hua Mot); NORTH-EASTERN: Loei (Phu Luang, Phu Kradueng); SOUTH-EASTERN: Trat (Ko Chang); SOUTH-WESTERN: Kanchanaburi (Song Tho).

Distribution : Himalayas, S China (type from Hongkong), Burma, Indochina, Malaya, N Sumatra.

Ecology : Terrestrial on rather dry slopes in not so dense forests or in recent clearings at medium altitudes (1,000–1,200 m).

Vernacular : Kut doi (กูดดอย)(Northern).

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