Australian Tropical Ferns and Lycophytes - Online edition

Arthropteris beckleri


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Close up of frond showing sori. © G. Sankowsky
Habit. © G. Sankowsky
Habit. © G. Sankowsky
Habit. © G. Sankowsky
Family

Tectariaceae

Botanical name

Arthropteris beckleri (Hook.) Mett.

Link to Australian Plant Name Index for publication details and synonyms: https://id.biodiversity.org.au/name/apni/102600

Description

Rhizome c. 1 mm diam.; upper surface covered with dense spreading dark brown scales bearing short marginal glandular hairs. Fronds 2.5–36 cm long, tapering towards apex and base or with ±parallel sides. Stipes ±absent, rarely to 2 cm long; rachis occasionally bearing scattered scales, but mostly long straight hairs; indumentum dense on the lower surface, scattered to absent on the upper surface. Pinnae 8–10 mm long, c. 4 mm wide (sterile) or 4–15 mm long, 2–6 mm wide (fertile), with long straight hairs, especially along veins, on the lower surface and occasionally on the upper surface, at least on the proximal end of the midrib; margins crenate; apex obtuse, usually with a low rounded basal auricle. Sori superficial, half-way between midrib and margin; indusium round to reniform with occasional simple hairs.

Distribution

NE QLD coast and hinterland from Cape Tribulation to Port Macquarie in NSW. Also in Malesia.

Habit and habitat

Epiphytic on tree trunks or lithophytic in mesic mid to upper montane vine forest.

Natural history

This species starts as a terrestrial fern and climbs up tree trunks to become and epiphyte.

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).

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