Pyrrosia princeps
Description
Stellate hairs dimorphic, a dense mat, brown to greyish brown, the straight upper rays appressed or patent, acicular, one central, elongated, erect ray sometimes present.
Distribution
Asia-Tropical: Maluku (Maluku present); New Guinea present; Sulawesi (Sulawesi present)
Malesia: Sulawesi (one locality), Moluccas, New Guinea.
Taxonomy
Pyrrosia princeps has been confused with P. platyphylla and P. splendens. It can usually be distinguished from both by the indument, which has an upper layer of hairs with erect, spreading rays. However, forms occur which closely resemble P. splendens (with erect, elongated central rays) or P. platyphylla (with appressed rays only). The rhizome scales display the most constant distinguishing character; they are dentate to ciliate in P. princeps, whereas at least the acumen is entire in P. splendens and P. platyphylla. Detached fronds, however, cannot always be identified with certainty.