%0 Journal Article
%A B. S. Kholia
%T A Note on the Re-collection and Conservation of Thelypteris kingii (Thelypteridaceae) – an Endemic Fern of India
%D 2013
%J Taiwania
%V 58
%N 1
%P 44-48
%U https://taiwania.ntu.edu.tw/abstract/1225
%X A rare and little known, endemic fern Thelypteris kingii C.F.Reed was first described from a 19th Century collection
from an unspecified locality in what was then "British Sikkim", now Darjeeling District, India. Recently a small population of the
plant was rediscovered by the author from present-day Sikkim State. Herbarium records and field study reveal that this species is
very rare and under great threat of extinction due to natural and man-made impact. This species is therefore little known to
pteridologists and is readily confused with the similar, but common species, T. mollissima (Kunze) N.Thapa as well as with another
S. E. Asian species T. leptogrammoides (Ross.) C.F. Reed due to nomenclatural similarities or being later homonymous. Although
only known so far from India, and thus an endemic Indian species, its presence in Tibet and China etc. is probably to be expected. A
brief history of its discovery, taxonomy, morphology, habitat and ecology is presented here to assist taxonomists and conservation
biologists with its identification and conservation. It has been identified as Endangered and Globally Threatened and efforts have
also been made by the present author to include it in the forthcoming volume of the Red Data Book of Indian plants.
%M doi:10.6165/tai.2013.58.44