Distributional Patterns of Epiphytic Ferns are Explained by the Presence of Cryptic Species

In a recent article in this journal Zhang and colleagues investigated the factors affecting the distribution of a species of epiphytic fern Asplenium nidus L. in rain forest in Peninsular Malaysia. Here we suggest that their findings may be interpreted in the light of there being two cryptic species present, each with different ecologies, as is the case in Malaysian Borneo. We also discuss the implications of the existence of cryptic species when attempting to conserve forest diversity in the face of climate change and habitat conversion. Abstract in Malay is available at http://www.blackwell‐synergy.com/loi/btp .