Crepidomanes saxifragoides

Hymenophyllaceae

Crepidomanes saxifragoides (C.Presl) P.S.Green

Link to Australian Plant Name Index for publication details and synonyms: https://id.biodiversity.org.au/name/apni/171494

Rhizome 0.1–0.25 mm diam., long-creeping, much-branched; hairs dense, reddish-brown. Fronds 0.5–2.5 cm long, rarely proliferous. Stipe 0.3–2 cm long, dark, wiry, densely covered with short hairs from the base for c. one-third to two-thirds of its length; lower surface with minute club-like hairs. Lamina semicircular to round, occasionally oblong, palmately divided into 3 to 5 major divisions, each dichotomously, but more shallowly divided. Ultimate segments 0.25–0.9 mm wide; apices obtuse or bifid; veins free, forked, their lower surface with minute, club-like hairs; false veins absent. Sori immersed in the apices of the ultimate segments; involucre tubular, 1–2 mm long, 0.5–1.2 mm wide; mouth broadly dilated, entire, with a few dark red or brown glandular hairs towards the base; receptacle included or shortly exserted at maturity. 

Widespread along the E coast of Australia from Iron Range to Tasmania. Also in Asia, Malesia and Pacific Islands.

Lithophytic or epiphytic in low to upper montane vine forest, subtropical rainforest and wet sclerophyll forest.

This is one of the most widespread and commonly encountered filmy ferns in Australia and is considered more tolerant of dry conditions than most filmy ferns.

Similar to Crepidomanes proliferum but distinguished by C. saxifragoides having palmate-flabellate fronds without proliferous buds on the axes (cf. having pinnate-pinnatifid fronds and proliferous buds on the axes in C. proliferum).