| Tectaria
vasta A rare cliff-hanging fern found in Labrador |
| Superficially,
it looks like Paku Wangi (Phymatosorus
scolopendria), the sweet smelling fern once popularly used by
home-makers to scent clothes in wardrobes. It also looks deceptively
like the spore-bearing fronds of the common Oak-Leaf
Fern. It is therefore not surprising that many a passing naturalist would only give this fern a cursory glance while climbing down the elaborate boardwalk system that hugs the steep cliff faces of Labrador Nature Reserve. |
 |
Like two well-heeled 'retirees' with time on a wind, Angie Ng and I strolled down this boardwalk on Wednesday (19 May 2004) just like what we had done many a time before. But this time, we were 'hawk-eyed' on a mission to look up the elusive Dipteris conjugata fern that had once thrived on these magnificent cliffs. But lo and behold, we came upon this strange-looking fern instead, and as we went further downhill, it became apparent to us that its local population in Labrador is wide. They are happily growing on the weathered sandstones and boulders in semi-shade condition. Many of them are bearing spores. |
| As we had suspected, it was a Tectaria. We had it nailed down to Tectaria vasta after consulting Holttum's Flora of Malaya - Fern. It was not a simple task though, as there is another species, Tectaria semipinnata, which it resembles. However, the indusiate sori of Tectaria vasta gave it away. The interestingly winged stipes (leaf-stalks), which first caught our attention, also separated it from T. semipinnata - all thanks to Holttum's insightful comparative description. |  |
It is hoped that this new discovery of T. vasta will add greater significance to the newly designated nature reserve status of Labrador, and give the fern its pride and place in Singapore's flora and natural history.