Australian Tropical Ferns and Lycophytes - Online edition

Lindsaea microphylla


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

Lindsaeaceae

Botanical name

Lindsaea microphylla Sw.

Link to Australian Plant Name Index for publication details and synonyms: https://id.biodiversity.org.au/name/apni/113430

Description

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. 

Distribution

Endemic to E Australia from Daintree NE QLD to East Gippsland Vic.

Habit and habitat

Terrestrial in open sclerophyll woodland.

Similar species

The combination of a commonly tripinnate lamina with pinnules 2–4 mm long distinguish this species from other Australian Lindsaea.

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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