Australian Tropical Ferns and Lycophytes - Online edition

Lygodium microphyllum


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

Schizeaceae

Botanical name

Lygodium microphyllum (Cav.) R.Br.

Link to Australian Plant Name Index for publication details and synonyms: https://id.biodiversity.org.au/name/apni/100415

Common name

Snake fern

Description

Rhizome long-creeping. Juvenile fronds once-forked; pinnae 4-lobed; margins crenate. Rachis subterete, flattened to slightly depressed on 1 side with ridged edges, glabrous or sparsely pubescent; primary rachis branches 2–5.5 mm long; secondary pinnae oblong, 1-pinnate, rarely 2-pinnate at base, 4–20 cm long, 2.5–10 cm wide; pinnule stalks of similar length to pinna apex; ultimate pinnules 2–5 cm long, 8–25 mm wide, membranous; laminal portion deciduous, ovate to lanceolate; base truncate to cuneate; margins finely or often obscurely crenulate; veins free; sterile pinnules usually longer than sporogenous ones. Sporogenous lobes 1.5–8 mm long.

Distribution

Widespread across northern and eastern areas of Australia. Also widespread in the Palaeotropics.

Habit and habitat

Terrestrial climbing on trees, shrubs and rock faces in lowland to lower montane vine forest and in open forest in inland areas.

Similar species

Lygodium flexuosum and Lygodium reticulatum.

1a. Lateral veins in pinnules forming a network = Lygodium reticulatum

1b. Lateral veins in pinnules not forming a network = 2

2a. Pinnules articulated at base, deciduous = Lygodium microphyllum

2b. Pinnules not articulated at base, persistent (look for dead pinnules hanging on frond) = Lygodium flexuosum

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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