Derrick

http://www.plantsystematics.org/imgs/robbin/re/Polypodiaceae_Microgramma_bifrons_38501.html Here the fern expert Robbin Moran has labeled his own photo as Microgramma brunei http://tcf.bh.cornell.edu/imgs/robbin/r/Polypodiaceae_Microgramma_brunei_7585.html Of course not everyone may accept Lellinger's classification, therefore thorough web searches should cover both 'generic' names.

Squamellaria thekii Jebb, published in Blumea 36, 1991. This is a little known species, only collected once. Again, the tuber is sub pendent, irregularly rotund and notable for having distinct encircling rings of entrance holes where the tuber is slightly constricted. Stems several, clustered, unbranched, reaching 36x08 cm. Habitat: A low-level epiphyte on forest tree trunks at 300-400 m. (984-1312 ft.) Record: Taveuni Island, on 'road' to Des Voeux Peak at 16o.50' S. 180o 00' E. The leaves of the plant in this photo are a little reminiscent of S. major being somewhat glossy but the shape is less rounded, less undulate and venation is far less apparent. Also the branches of S. major are much thicker and produced singly, while these branches are thinner and arise in scattered clusters but there is (possibly?) some branching. The apex of the tuber is rounded, another diagnostic for S. thekii, while the tuber apex of S. imberbis is usually very flattened. An anomaly is that in this telephoto image, some branches seem to be thickened towards their apex which is a diagnostic of S. major. However, I suspect the type description was made from limited material. I also wonder (purely idle speculation) if this species may be a natural hybrid between S. imberbis & S. major. Another extremely low possibility is that this specimen is something new taxonomically. With most specimens high in trees I was not aware that I had photographed this species until I was able to view my images on a large screen when I returned home.

The much rarer Squamellaria thekii on lower elevations of the Des Voeux Peak track near the start of protected forest. Taveuni Island, Fiji. Fiji Photo's 123B, Squamellaria thekii..JPG] attachment=639:

Squamellaria imberbis (A. Gray) Beccari published in Malesia Raccolta 2, 1886. Synonym S. wilsonii (Horne ex Baker) Beccari Malesia Raccolta 2, 1886. Basionym Hydnophytum wilsonii Horne ex Baker, published in Journal of the Linnean Society, Botany 20, 1883. Tuber elongate-rotund growing horizontally to 30 cm long and approximately half that in diameter with a number of slim hydnophytum-like stems arising from the apex or nearby. Colour glossy to matt black with scattered 2 cm spines mounted on small protrusions; small, rimmed entrance holes are most numerous on upper surfaces. Stems several, branching, to 50 cm long. Calyx pale green, corolla white. Flowers and fruits have been obtained between May and December. Habitats: Two reports. Often several specimens to a tree growing at altitudes of 300-700 m. (984-2297 ft.) on Vanua Levu and Taveuni Islands, Fiji. Occurring in dense forest at elevations of 200-900 m. (656-2953 ft.) Range: Endemic to Fiji: Vanua Levu and Taveuni Islands. Records: Vanua Levu Island: Thakaundrove (Cakaudrove) Province: Mt. Kasi, Yanawai River region (16o 30’ S. 179o 19’ E. this is on the mid west side of Savusavu Bay on the south side. Mathuata-Thakaundrove (Cakaudrove) Provincial boundary; Korotini Range near road from Savusavu to Lambasa. Crest of Korotini Range, between Navitho Pass and Mt. Ndelaikoro. Taveuni Island: Western slope 16o 48' S, 179o 58' E, between Wairiki on the north-west coast and Somosomo a little further north. Slopes of Mt. Manuka, east of Wairiki and on wooded mountains on western slope a few kilometres northeast of Vuna Point. On road to Des Voeux Peak. Above Qacavulo (Nggathavula) Estate, Nggarawalu Freehold (now obsolete.) Also Forest Creek ?an uncertain location.)

This is the "unknown" sp. It was published about 12 years ago. http://www.botanicus.org/primeocr/mbgserv14/botanicus5/b13058551/31753003431209/31753003431209_0481.txt Microgramma fosteri Leon & Beltran (sub-genus Solanopteris) published in Novon 12(4), 2002. Description: a species with dimorphic leaves, long creeping rhizomes and hollow tubers measuring only 1.5- 2 cm in diameter. It differs from other coenosoric (a particular sori shape) species by the presence of laminar scales intermixed among sori (spore receptacles)and slender paraphyses (sterile plant organs) with elongate apical cells possessing clear lumina and thin walls. Habitat/Range: As one can see from the above date, it is a 'relatively' new find. The type specimen was collected in the year 2000 in the Ucayali Region of north-central Peru on the Azul del Biabo(Blue Mountain Range), at an altitude of 1220 m. (4003 ft.) in the cabaceras del Rio Pisque (headwaters of the River Pisque) which eventually flows to the Pacific Ocean through Uruguay to the north west. The whole of the Blue Mountain Range is located on an isolated branch of the eastern cordillera, spread between the geopolitical regions of Huánuco, Loreto, Ucayali and San Martin. Created in 2001 it forms Azul National Forest the largest continually intact high montane forests in Peru and the country’s third largest national park. Its climate is influenced by its latitude and proximity to the inter-tropical convergence zone and altitudes that vary from a high 2,320 m. (7612 ft.) down to only 150 m (492 ft.) It is generally mild and rainy in areas above 400 m (1312 ft.) but hot and humid on the Amazon lowland plain. At heights of 1220 m. (4003 ft.) and above, expect conditions to be cool and wet, yet the entire region is subject to a pattern of dry periods between Jun/Jul to Oct/Nov. There can also be occasional cold winds from frigid mountains to the south known locally as "friaje" when temperatures will drop to as low as 8°C. (46°F.)for several days. The highest mountains to the north and east of the Cordillera Azul constitute a barrier to humidity from the Amazon plain to the east; therefore, in the northeast of the park, forests are markedly drier at varying altitudes.

Fiji Photo's 054, Squamellaria wilsonii, Taveuni Island, Fiji..JPG]