Australian Tropical Ferns and Lycophytes - Online edition

Davallia repens


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Close up of frond showing sori. © G. Sankowsky
Close up of frond showing sori. © CSIRO
Close up of frond showing sori. © G. Sankowsky
Frond. © CSIRO
Frond, juvenile. © CSIRO
Frond. © G. Sankowsky
Habit. © G. Sankowsky
Habit. © CSIRO
Rhizome. © CSIRO
Family

Davalliaceae

Botanical name

Davallia repens (L.f.) Kuhn

Link to Australian Plant Name Index for publication details and synonyms: https://id.biodiversity.org.au/name/apni/171663

Common name

Dwarf Hares-Foot Fern

Description

Rhizome slender, white-waxy, densely covered with appressed red-brown scales with pale scarious margins bearing fragile deciduous hairs. Fronds in Australian material generally simple and pinnatifid, narrowly triangular, 1.2–21 cm long, coriaceous. Stipe 0.5–12 cm long, bearing similar scales to rhizome; rachis with scattered scales on lower surface, glabrous on upper surface. Pinnae deeply lobed almost to rachis; widest point 8–85 mm; upper surface glabrous; lower surface rarely with a few dark simple hairs; margins highly variable in degree of lobing but basal lobe pair always distinct, usually larger and asymmetrical with much deeper lobing on the basal side; apex rounded on sterile lobes to acuminate on fertile lobes; false veins absent. Sori marginal, grouped near apices of pinna lobes, mostly in sinuses formed by a marginal tooth projecting from basal side of sorus; indusium generally elongate, attached at a narrow base, apex extending beyond margin.

Distribution

Widespread in the Palaeotropics. In Australia it occurs in NE QLD from Iron Range to Eungella.

Habit and habitat

Epiphytic, lithophytic or terrestrial near watercourses in rainforest. On occasionally inhabitant of nest-epiphytes.

Natural history

The fronds of this species can roll when dehydrated.

Cultivation

Readily cultivated in a pot or hanging basket in a tropical garden or fernery.

Similar species

Key to Davallia repens and Davallia pectinata

1a. Fronds pinnatifid with a comb-like arrangement of many lateral lobes, lamina longer than wide = Davallia pectinata

1b. Fronds pinnatifid with a palm-like arrangement of few lateral lobes, lamina roughly as long as wide = Davallia repens

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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