Australian Tropical Ferns and Lycophytes - Online edition

Antrophyum plantagineum

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Close up of frond showing sori. © Australian Tropical Herbarium

Frond. © Australian Tropical Herbarium

Complete frond. © A.R. Field

Habit. © Australian Tropical Herbarium

Rhizome. © Australian Tropical Herbarium

Habit. © Australian Tropical Herbarium

Family

Pteridaceae

Botanical name

Antrophyum plantagineum (Cav.) Kaulf.

Link to Australian Plant Name Index for publication details and synonyms: https://id.biodiversity.org.au/name/apni/96146

Description

Fronds with a distinct stipe 5–10 cm long, scaly at the base, abruptly expanded into the lamina. Lamina elliptic to obovate, 10–20 cm long, 3.5–8 cm wide, tapered to each end, pendent, coriaceous, bright green; apex acuminate to subcaudate; venation prominent abaxially, with long narrow areoles. Sori prominent; paraphyses numerous, branched, with clavate terminal cells.

Distribution

In Australia it occurs in NE QLD between Iron Range and Johnstone River. Also in Malesia and Pacific Islands.

Habit and habitat

Epiphytic or lithophytic, usually on granite boulders or basal rock faces in high rainfall complex vine forest.

Natural history

In some areas this species occurs in highly seasonal forest and appears to die back annually during drought.

Cultivation

Very 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.

Citation of Australian Tropical Ferns and Lycophytes

Field AR, Quinn CJ, Zich FA (2022) Australian Tropical Ferns and Lycophytes. apps.lucidcentral.org/fern/text/intro/index.htm (accessed online INSERT DATE).

Field AR, Quinn CJ, Zich FA (2022) ‘Platycerium superbum’, in Australian Tropical Ferns and Lycophytes. apps.lucidcentral.org/fern/text/entities/platycerium_superbum.htm (accessed online INSERT DATE).

Web edition hosted at https://apps.lucidcentral.org/ferns