 |
| Asplenium merapohense
R. Jaman & K. Imin
|
Abstract
A new species of Asplenium is described from two collections made on limestone hills in Peninsular Malaysia. Conspicuous by its extremely narrow pinnae, it is probably allied to A. salignum but differs in sufficient characters (scale size, size and shape of lamina, venation and sorus length, position and orientation) to be a species in its own right.
Keywords: Asplenium, limestone, flora, morphology, taxonomy
 |
| Figure 2. Asplenium merapohense R.Jaman & K.Imin, sp. nov. A Gunung Gajah B habitat – in crevices on a shaded, mossy limestone vertical cliff C Undersurface of a pinna with sori showing indusia.
(Photographs by A P.T. Ong, B, C K. Imin).
|
Asplenium merapohense R. Jaman & K. Imin, sp. nov.
Diagnosis: Similar to Asplenium salignum in its short creeping rhizome, tuft of simple or once pinnate fronds dentate with rounded marginal teeth but A. merapohense is distinct in its shorter, much narrower pinnae 3.4–7.1 × 0.2–0.3(–0.45) cm (vs. 6–27 × 0.9–3.7 cm) and shorter sori, which are 2–6 mm long and lie parallel to the midrib (vs. sori 4–13 mm long angled at 45° to the midrib).
Distribution: Endemic in Peninsular Malaysia, from Pahang, Merapoh (Gua Gajah) and Kelantan, Gua Musang District (Gua Panjang).
Etymology: It takes its name from the type locality.
Ecology: Restricted to karst limestone hills where it grows on steep rock faces in sheltered conditions at 180–348 m altitude. It is a rare and very local species (Figure 2).
Razali Jaman, Imin Kamin and Ruth Kiew. 2017. Asplenium merapohense (Aspleniaceae), A New Species from the Peninsular Malaysia. PhytoKeys. 89; 85-90. DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.89.20875
