Antrophyum callifolium

Pteridaceae

Antrophyum callifolium Blume

Link to Australian Plant Name Index for publication details and synonyms: https://id.biodiversity.org.au/name/apni/119161

Ox-Tongue Fern

Fronds lacking a distinct stipe or stipe very short. Lamina oblanceolate to ligulate-oblanceolate, 10–45 cm long, 1.5–6 cm wide, tapered to each end, pendent, dull green, often wrinkled, coriaceous; apex acute to acuminate, rarely forked; venation prominent abaxially, with long narrow areoles. Sori profuse, often broken or branched; paraphyses numerous, reddish, filiform, lacking enlarged terminal cells.

Malesia, Australia and Pacific Islands. In Australia it occurs in NE QLD from Torres Strait to Cape Hillsborough.

Epiphytic or lithophytic in a variety of high rainfall to seasonally dry vine forests. It commonly grows on granite boudlers, basalt rock walls and large tree trunks in shaded areas.

The lamina of this species becomes dry and leathery in drought periods and resurrects in wet periods.

Slow to establish but can be cultivated in a pot of coarse draining organic material or on a moist slab in a shaded tropical garden or fernery.