Geoffary Gunsalam and I found this epiphyte growing on Gunung Alab, in Tambunan (Sabah, Malaysia). The plant was sterile, and we were unable to place it to genus at the time. I did not collect it since my permit only covered grammitids. A few weeks later while working in SING I stumbled upon some Asplenium specimens which were quite similar and realized what I had seen. Thanks to Barbara Parris (AK) for suggesting the species.
Asplenium salignum Blume/A vulcanicum Blume
isn´t this Asplenium merapohense???
Good question Malte! When that species was published in 2017 I immediately thought of this plant. Since this plant was sterile and not collected, someone will have to go back to Gunung Alab to be sure. However, the fact that my plant was an epiphyte would argue that A. salignum is the best name for now. I also would like to know more about the edge between these two taxa. Is A. merapohense simply a regional variant? could polyploidy be involved? Much remains unknown about this group of Asplenium.
Good day, Michael.
Do you consider Asplenium salignum and A. vulcanicum to be one or separate species?
That is another good question Edward. I don’t have an informed opinion. I would be glad to hear yours.