Lindsaeaceae
Australian Tropical Ferns and Lycophytes - Online edition
Lindsaea microphylla
Lindsaea microphylla Sw.
Link to Australian Plant Name Index for publication details and synonyms: https://id.biodiversity.org.au/name/apni/113430
Rhizome short-creeping, 1–2 mm diam.; scales to 2.5 mm long, pale reddish-brown to golden-brown. Fronds monomorphic. Stipes closely spaced, 4–15 cm long, stramineous to pale reddish-brown or mottled, darker at base. Lamina 2–3-pinnate, narrowly oblong to narrowly ovate, c. 10–50 cm long, (2–) 4–6 cm wide. Pinnae strongly ascending, ovate to deltate, ±alternate, smaller above, more distant below. Pinnules flabellate to cuneate, sessile to shortly stalked, 2–4 mm long and wide; fertile pinnules entire or variously incised, with straight or slightly convex lateral margins and a truncate irregular outer margin; sterile pinnules usually larger, with a crenate or dentate outer margin. Veins free, forked 1–2 times. Sori on (1–) 2–4 vein endings; indusium c. 0.5 mm wide, pale, extending to the margin. Spores trilete (with a tendency towards being monolete), golden-brown, with prominent ridges.
Endemic to E Australia from Daintree NE QLD to East Gippsland Vic.
Terrestrial in open sclerophyll woodland.
The combination of a commonly tripinnate lamina with pinnules 2–4 mm long distinguish this species from other Australian Lindsaea.
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).