A new species of Chingia (Thelypteridaceae) from Vanikoro, Solomon Islands

Abstract

A new species of Chingia, known only from Vanikoro in the Solomon Islands, is described and illustrated. It is distinctive in having flat, thickened, tortuous stipe scales. It is most closely related to an accession of Chingia clavipilosa from Mount Kinabalu, from which it is distinguished by its lack of hyaline acicular hairs on the abaxial laminar axes. Other Chingia species in the Solomon Islands are distinguished by having abundant stiff, terete stipe scales.