Lindsaea walkerae

Lindsaeaceae

Lindsaea walkerae Hook.

Link to Australian Plant Name Index for publication details and synonyms: https://id.biodiversity.org.au/name/apni/114041

Rhizome short- to long-creeping, 1.5–2 mm diam.; scales to 2 mm long, reddish-brown. Fronds monomorphic. Stipes spaced along rhizome, dark brown to black. Lamina 1-pinnate, narrowly oblong to narrowly ovate, 15–25 (–70) cm long, (1.5–) 3–6 (–20) cm wide, shorter to much longer than the stipe; rachis blackish. Pinnules in (3–) 5–9 (–17) pairs, obliquely or very strongly ascending, sessile to shortly stalked, linear to narrowly ovate, 2–4 (–5) cm long, 2.5–6 (–8) mm wide, chartaceous to rigidly coriaceous; margins entire, ±revolute; midrib ±distinct; lateral veins free, forked 1–3 times. Terminal pinnule similar in shape and size to laterals. Sori continuous; indusium extending to the margin, 0.4 mm wide, pale brown, entire. Spores trilete, dark brown, smooth. 

Torres Strait to Cowley Beach in NE QLD, Arnhem Land and Melville Island NT. Also in Malesia.

Terrestrial, usually in oligotrophic wetlands in open forest and heath with carnivorous plants.

The presence of dark stipes and continuous linear sori on both margins of elongate pinnae distinguishes this species from all other Australian Lindsaea. Lindsaea walkerae is similar to Lindsaea ensifolia subsp. ensifolia but has a darker brown stipe.