Metathelypteris dassanayakei (Fraser-Jenk.) Ranil, 2021

Rajapaksha, Ranil, 2021, Six new combinations and one new natural hybrid of ferns from Sri Lanka, Phytotaxa 511 (2), pp. 183-186 : 184

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/phytotaxa.511.2.6
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/038587EB-FFE5-5551-18B8-461042FDF90A
treatment provided by	Marcus
scientific name	Metathelypteris dassanayakei (Fraser-Jenk.) Ranil
status	comb. nov.

Treatment

4. Metathelypteris dassanayakei (Fraser-Jenk.) Ranil View in CoL , comb. nov.

Basionym: Thelypteris dassanayakei Fraser-Jenk. (1997: 274) View in CoL

[ Metathelypteris flaccida (Blume) Ching var. repens Sledge (1981:8) View in CoL ]

Type :— SRI LANKA, Nuwara Eliya District , Kandapola, Nuwara Eliya, 1800 m, 19 March 1954, Sledge1323 ( BM holotype) .

Distribution:— Sri Lanka (endemic).

Note:—This taxon was initially described by Sledge (1981) as a variety of Metathelypteris flaccida (Blume) Ching considering its wide-creeping and branching rhizome. It was renamed T. dassanayakei by Fraser-Jenkins (1997) and represents a different species from M. flaccida . This endemic species occurs in high altitude areas (1450-2090 m) and is considered as a critically endangered species ( Ranil et al., 2020).