Volume 3 > Part 4 > Year 1989 > Page 488 > Polypodiaceae > Platycerium

1. Platycerium wallichii Hook.wfo-0001125738

Gard. Chron. 1858: 765; Fil. Exot.: t. 97. 1859; Bedd., Handb. Ferns Brit. India: 445. f. 272. 1883; C.Chr., Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 26: 335. 1931; Holttum, Rev. Fl. Malaya 2: 141. 1955; Dansk Bot. Ark. 23: 229. 1965; Tagawa & K.Iwats., S.E. Asia Stud. 5: 47. 1967; Hennipman & Roos, Verh. Kon. Ned. Akad. 80: 113. f. 27, e–g, 30. pl. 1, 8b. 1982. Fig. 49. 7–11.

Accepted Name : This is currently accepted.

Description : Rhizome short-creeping, less than 1 cm diam., bearing fronds densely covered with scales; scales linear, up to 1 cm by 0.4 mm, pale with dark brown central portion, stiff. Scale-leaves 40 cm or more in length, as wide as long, dichotomously lobed, the deepest sinus more than 20 cm deep, lobed round or moderately acute at apex, longer than wide; main veins and secondary veins raised on both surfaces, smaller ones hardly visible; main veins dichotomous, secondary ones forming network, smaller ones more copiously anastomosing; very thick and fleshy near base, more than 1 cm thick, thin and green at upper portion. Normal leaves up to 50 cm or more long, pendulous, repeatedly dichotomously branching, the base broadly cuneate; ultimate lobes narrow, up to 15 cm by 3 cm, entire; main veins distinct, dichotomous, smaller ones hardly visible, copiously anastomosing with included veinlets; thick but not leatherly, densely stellate hairy; a large area of the lower surface at base of the two first sinus covered with sporagia, mixed with stellate paraphyses.

Thailand : NORTHERN: Chiang Rai (Mae Suai), Chiang Mai (Fang, Ping Khong, Doi Suthep), Mae Hong Son (Ban Mae Pang), Lampang (Huai Thak), Nakhon Sawan (Pang Ma Kham Pom, Takhli); NORTH-EASTERN: Loei (Phu Luang, Pha Nok Khao), Nong Khai (Pak Cheng); CENTRAL: Sarabri (Phrieo); SOUTH-EASTERN: Chon Buri (Si Racha); SOUTH-WESTERN: Kanchanaburi (Erawan Falls, Wangka); PENINSULAR: Ranong (Kapoe), Satun.

Distribution : E India, Burma (Tenasserim) and Yunnan to Malay (Langkawi, Kedah – type).

Ecology : Epiphytic on tree-trunks usually in not so dense forests, not so rare at lower altitudes throughout the country.

Vernacular : Ka-chopho-na (กะฌอโพน่า)(Karen-Northern); kraprok hua mu (กระปรอกหัวหมู), kraprok yai (กระปรอกใหญ่)(Southeastern); chai pha sida (ชายผ้าสีดา)(Central); tong ho khao ya ba (ตองห่อข้าวย่าบา)(Northern); hua thao I ba (หัวเฒ่าอีบา)(Northeastern).

CommonName : Stanghorn Fern.

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