Cyathea contaminans
Content
Distribution
Asia-Temperate: China Southeast (Hong Kong absent), Malaysia present, Peninsular India as far N as Mergui present
Throughout Malaysia, in Peninsular India as far N as Mergui. Specimens so named from Hong Kong are C. lepifera (J. Sm.) Copel.
Notes
This is the most widespread species of Cyathea in Malaysia, having no close allies at low elevations in Western Malaysia. In New Guinea there are several allied species, of which C. angiensis (Gepp) Domin appears to be nearest; it may perhaps better be united to C. contaminans. The several varieties of C. contaminans which have been described appear mostly to be due to the influence of environmental factors, or to be young, and therefore unusually scaly, at the time of collection.
I have only seen one specimen of this species from NE. India; it was collected by Scott, who noted (l.c.) that typical Alsophila contaminans occurred there only at low altitudes. He distin- guished var. brunoniana (A. brunoniana Hook.), which is common in Sikkim at higher altitudes and has smooth (not spiny) stipes and copiously scaly costae and costules. I prefer to regard this as a distinct species, which must be called Cyathea brunoniana (Hook.) Clarke & BAK., though this name was actually used by Clarke & Baker for a quite different species. I hope to publish elsewhere descriptions of this and other species of the mainland of Asia.
I have only seen one specimen of this species from NE. India; it was collected by Scott, who noted (l.c.) that typical Alsophila contaminans occurred there only at low altitudes. He distin- guished var. brunoniana (A. brunoniana Hook.), which is common in Sikkim at higher altitudes and has smooth (not spiny) stipes and copiously scaly costae and costules. I prefer to regard this as a distinct species, which must be called Cyathea brunoniana (Hook.) Clarke & BAK., though this name was actually used by Clarke & Baker for a quite different species. I hope to publish elsewhere descriptions of this and other species of the mainland of Asia.
Citation
Hook. 1898: p. 79. – In: Ann. Jard. Bot. Btzg: pl. XIII f. 2
v.A.v.R. 1908: Handb.: 41
Copel. 1960 – In: Fern Fl. Philip.: 230
Hassk. 1855 – In: Hook., J. Bot. Kew Mise. 7: 323
v.A.v.R. 1918 – In: Bull. Jard. Bot. Btzg: 13
Koord.-Schum. 1912 – In: Syst. Verz.: 5
Scott 1874 – In: Trans. Linn. Soc.: 35
Bedd. 1865: Ferns Br. Ind.: pl. 85
Copel. 1949 – In: Philip. J. Sc.: 115
Hook. 1897: Farnkr. Erde: 327
Hook. 1866: Syn. Fil.: 41
Copel. 1960 – In: Fern Fl. Philip.: 230
v.A.v.R. 1917: Handb.: 69
Bedd. 1883: Handb.: 12
Backer & Posth. 1939: Varenfl. Java: 28
Diels 1899 – In: E. & P., Pfl. Fam. 1: 136
Rosenst. 1915 – In: Hedwigia: 349
Holttum 1954 – In: Rev. Fl. Mal.: 119
Christ 1895 – In: Verh. Nat. Ges. Basel: 199
J. Sm. 1920 – In: Bull. Jard. Bot. Btzg: 129