Long Grass Nature Refuge
Fauna and Flora Detail
WildMan
Wildlife Management System
© Copyright Long Grass Nature Refuge,2011
Return
Help
Scientific Name
Common Name
Type
Notes
Fern with branched rhizome growing into large clumps, generally on trees or other plants, or on rocks. Fronds dimorphic (i.e. consisting of two different types). Nest leaves are deeply lobed and more or less clasping the substrate, while the true, or fertile fronds are semi-erect to nodding. The latter become more pendulous with age, and near their base are slender and narrowly wedge-shaped; the upper half forks 2 or 3 times, the final segments often drooping. Huge clumps often form over time as a result of buds on margins of nest leaves growing into new plantlets. These clumps often support other epiphytes, e.g. ribbon fern (Ophioglossum pendulum). Spores are borne in a mass of brownish sporangia covering much of the undersides of the upper segments. Distributed from Nthn Qld, where it is usually found on trees, to Sthn NSW, where it is more frequently seen growing in large masses on rock surfaces. Found in habitats varying from rainforest canopies to Casuarina swamps to open forest, on a range of host trees. Hardy fern that is very easy to cultivate
Photos