Oleandra neriiformis
Oleandra neriiformis Cav.
Oleandra neriiformis is a fern species in the Oleandraceae family, described by Cavanilles in 1799. It is distributed across several regions in Southeast Asia and the Pacific, including Borneo, New Guinea, the Philippines, and Vanuatu. The plant has a creeping or ascending rhizome, with peltate scales and monomorphic or weakly dimorphic fronds. Fertile laminae are narrow and elongated, with sori arranged in a single row or scattered zone near the costa. The species was corrected from 'neriformis' to 'neriiformis' under ICBN 60.8.
Description
Oleandra neriiformis features a rhizome with creeping and ascending stems, 3–8 mm thick, covered with peltate scales. Fronds are monomorphic or weakly dimorphic, with a short stipe and a narrow, acuminate fertile lamina. The lower surface of the fronds is glabrous or sparsely hairy, without dark coloration. Sori are arranged in a single row or scattered zone near the costa, with an inconspicuous to distinct indusium. The species is distinguished from similar taxa such as Oleandra musifolia and Oleandra cumingii, though some identifications remain uncertain due to limited specimen availability. It does not occur in Australia, as previously suggested.
Distribution
Bismarck Archipelago · Borneo · Cambodia · Fiji · Jawa · Lesser Sunda Is. · Malaya · Maluku · New Guinea · Philippines · Queensland · Samoa · Santa Cruz Is. · Society Is. · Solomon Is. · Sulawesi · Sumatera · Thailand · Vanuatu · Vietnam
Synonyms
Aspidium bantamenseAspidium micranthumAspidium neriiformeAspidium phyllarthronAspidium salaccenseOleandra archboldiiOleandra bantamensisOleandra christopherseniiOleandra ciliataOleandra clemensiaeOleandra colubrinaOleandra cuspidataOleandra herreiOleandra hirtellaOleandra micranthaOleandra mollisOleandra nitidaOleandra oblanceolataOleandra parksiiOleandra phyllarthronOleandra platybasisOleandra samoensisBlechnum colubrinumOphiopteris verticillataOleandra subdimorphaOleandra colubrina var. nitidaOleandra colubrina var. membranaceaOleandra cumingii var. tahitensisOleandra maquilingensisOleandra neriiformis var. brachypus