Lecanopteris sinuosa

Polypodiaceae

Lecanopteris sinuosa (Wall. ex Hook.) Copel.

Link to Australian Plant Name Index for publication details and synonyms: https://id.biodiversity.org.au/name/apni/120097

Rhizome long creeping, 1–1.5 cm diam., fleshy, bearing 2 rows of fronds articulated to swollen, conical phyllopodia, c. 1 cm tall, 1–2 cm apart; rhizome and stipe bases bearing scattered scales. Scales ±round, 0.5–3 mm diam., pale with a dark centre consisting of cells with thick lateral walls. Fronds to 40 cm long; sterile fronds often shorter. Stipe 2–10 cm long. Lamina simple, c. 8–30 cm long, 1–2.5 cm wide; base very narrow; margins thickened, sinuous (1 convexity to each sorus); apex rounded; texture thin, firm with no veins visible on surface; prominent lateral veins lacking; areoles irregular. Sori large, in 1 row on each side of midrib, c. half-way or less from edge, in sharply defined shallow usually elliptic cavities (projecting on upper surface), 3–5 mm diam.; paraphyses absent. Spores 32.5–62.5 µm long, 25–47.5 µm wide. 

Occurs in Torres Strait on Moa Island and at Captain Billy's Landing, Cape York Peninsula. Also in Malesia and the Pacific Islands.

A twig and small branch epiphyte in mesic lowland vine forest.

Easy to cultivate as an epiphyte or basket fern in a tropical garden or fernery.