Lygodium japonicum

Lygodiaceae

Lygodium japonicum (Thunb.) Sw.

Link to Australian Plant Name Index for publication details and synonyms: https://id.biodiversity.org.au/name/apni/100393

Japanese climbing fern

Rhizome short-creeping. Juvenile fronds unknown. Rachis sparsely pubescent, subterete, flattened on 1 side with ridged edges; primary rachis branches c. 2 mm long; secondary pinnae broadly lanceolate-triangular, 10–17 cm long, 7–17 cm wide, often broader than long, 3-pinnate; pinnule stalks reducing in length towards pinna apex; basal tertiary pinnules 3–8 cm long, 2.5–8 cm wide; ultimate pinnules ovate, lanceolate to triangular; sterile pinnules fused, palmately-lobed; terminal lobe much longer, membranous, sparsely pubescent; base ±hastate; margins entire or crenulate; veins free; sporogenous pinnules smaller and more finely dissected than sterile ones. Sporogenous lobes 1–5 mm long.

Recorded from Darwin NT. Also widespread in Asia.

A terrestrial fern with climbing fronds, usually found growing in open vine forest or moist sclerophyll forest.

Probably introduced.