Helminthostachys zeylanica, locally known as tunjuk bumi in Malay is a member of the family Ophioglossaceae and the only species in the genus Helminthostachys. This species is a flowering terrestrial fern with short creeping rhizome that can reach up to 7 mm in diameter, bearing either a solitary frond or several fronds in each year. It is an unbranched plant, laterally and ventrally bearing fleshy roots. It has lanceolate leaves with the entire or irregularly serrate margins and acuminate apex. The rhizome is sometimes exported to China for its medicinal use (Uphof, 1959). Its mature leaves have a spike which can grow up to 20 cm long that arise from the base of the leaves with its own stipe. This herbaceous fern can be found growing on moist ground, along the river banks or on humus-rich slopes in light shade from sea level up to 400 m altitude. It is commonly found in Australia, India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Taiwan, New Guinea and Indonesia (Jones, 1987).
No | Part | Habit | |
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1 |
Terrestrial — An animal that lives on/near the ground or a plant that grows on/in/from land
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||
2 |
Upright — Growing upward.
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No | Description | Suitability | Seasonality |
---|---|---|---|
1 |
Vegetation → Coastal Vegetation
|
Unknown | Unknown |
Year Published | Assessment | Red List Category | Version |
---|---|---|---|
2010 | Malaysia Plant Red List |
Not Evaluated (NE)
|
N/A |
Collection Center | Dried | Live | Slide | Wet | Total | |
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1 | ||||||
2 |
Profile | |
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Rosazlina Binti Rusly (Dr.)
Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)
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Ferns,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Conservation, Ecology, Ecosystems, Environment, Forest, Genetics, Invasive Alien Species, Molecular, Systematics & Taxonomy
|
Yong Kien Thai (Dr.)
University of Malaya (UM)
|
Moss, Vascular (Taxonomy), Ferns (Taxonomy),
Protected Areas, Biodiversity, Conservation, Evolution & Taxonomy
|
Acknowledgements :- Ms. Aida Salihah Binti Abu Bakar, Ms. Ajla Rafidah Baharom, Ms. Amirah Hasanah Binti Mazlan, Mr. Badrul Amin Bin Jaffar, Ms. Kamilia Huda Binti Mohd Zaini, Ms. Mira Farzana Binti Mohamad Mokhtar, Mr. Mohamad Firdaus Bin Mohamad Ridzwan, Mr. Muhammad Izzuddin Bin Hazan, Ms. Noorkhalilie Binti Che Abd Aziz, Ms. Norazah Binti Norddin, Ms. Nurfadzilah Bt Azmi, Ms. Nurfarhana Hizan Binti Hijas, Ms. Nurliyana Binti Abd Rahman, Ms. Nurul Aimi Amirah Binti Mohd Zaki, Ms. Siti Zubaidah Binti Abdul Latif, Mr. Tan Kok Kiat & Mr. Yasser Mohamed Arifin
Photo credit :- FRIM
Species Citation :- Helminthostachys zeylanica. Malaysia Biodiversity Information System (MyBIS). Accessed via https://www.mybis.gov.my/sp/42329. [Retrieved 30 November 2023].
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