5. Elaphoglossum marginatum T. Moore, Index Fil. 11. 1857.
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Rhizomes shortly creeping, densely scaly; scales dark brown, lanceolate or linear, 4-10 mm, membranous, margin ciliate, sometimes with projecting arms especially near base, apex acuminate or attenuate. Fronds close together; sterile fronds: stipe (5-)7-13 cm, base densely covered with scales similar to those of rhizome, distal scales smaller and narrower; lamina lanceolate, 10-30 × 2-6 cm, leathery, both surfaces with small, brown, stellate scales, denser abaxially, base cuneate, shortly decurrent along stipe, margin entire or somewhat undulate, thickened and slightly reflexed, apex acuminate or acute; secondary veins somewhat hidden, simple or once forked; fertile fronds: stipe 10-20 cm, lamina narrower.
On moss-covered rocks and tree trunks in forests; 100-2600 m. Guangxi, Guizhou, Sichuan, Taiwan, Xizang, Yunnan [Bhutan, NE India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nepal, Philippines, Vietnam].
Elaphoglossum marginatum has been included within E. conforme (Swartz) Schott, but Mickel (Fl. Trop. E. Afr. Lomariopsidaceae, 14. 2002) restricts E. conforme to Africa, excluding collections from Asia. Elaphoglossum conforme is differentiated by its creeping rhizome; rhizome scales with isodiametric cells; and lamina with scattered minute resinous dots, or rarely with minute peltate scales or glabrous abaxially, adaxially less so, and apex rounded to acute.
