Macrothelypteris

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Macrothelypteris

Distribution

Asia-Tropical, Australasia: Queensland (Queensland present), Central China present, Mascarene Islands present, Pacific: Hawaii present, islands of the Pacific south to Kermadec Island present, warmer parts of mainland Asia present
Mascarene Islands; warmer parts of mainland Asia; Malesia; Queensland; islands of the Pacific south to Kermadec Island (including Hawaii); 10 species.
As pointed out by Ching, the type selected by Ito is a little-known species from central China. In 1969 I placed it as a variety of M. torresiana, but I am now doubtful about this, and have not seen enough material to make a good judgement. In 1965 Iwatsuki included this genus in Thelypteris subg. Thelypteris sect. Metathelypteris but the scales of the latter (here ranked as a genus) are different, also the chromosome number.

Cytology

Base chromosome number 31; M. ornata diploid (N. India); M. torresiana tetraploid (India, Ceylon, Singapore) and hexaploid (Ceylon); M. viridifrons tetraploid (Japan).

Citation

Holttum 1969 – In: Blumea: 25
K. Iwats. 1960 – In: Acta Phytotax. Geobot.: 155
Ching 1977 – In: Allertonia: 177