Australian Tropical Ferns and Lycophytes - Online edition

Nephrolepis arida


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Close up of frond. © Australian Tropical Herbarium
Habit. © Australian Tropical Herbarium
Family

Nephrolepidaceae

Botanical name

Nephrolepis arida D.L.Jones

Link to Australian Plant Name Index for publication details and synonyms: https://id.biodiversity.org.au/name/apni/82002

Description

Stolons and basal portions of stipes with scattered lanceolate red-brown scales which sometimes bear marginal cilia. Fronds to 1.7 m long, rachis with moderately dense short simple rust-coloured hairs. Pinnae often with a blunt triangular basal auricle. Sterile pinnae 10–75 mm long, 7–15 mm wide, margins crenate towards round (occasionally acute) apex; underside of pinnae and upper midrib usually covered with short simple hairs, sometimes also with scattered hair-like scales. Fertile pinnae similar to sterile. Sori submarginal, often irregularly spaced, indusium reniform.

Distribution

Endemic and uncommon in scattered localities in N WA and in central and N NT.

Habit and habitat

Grows in damp crevices and on ledges in sandstone gorges.

Similar species

Nephrolepis arida can be distinguished from other Australian Nephrolepis by its shorter, stouter more numerous pinnae with a blunt apex and combined with a lack of basal auricles that overlap the rachis.

Key to Australian Nephrolepis spp.:
1a. Sori linear with a linear indusium and borne on margin; pinnae with entire margins = Nephrolepis acutifolia
1b. Sori round or kidney-shaped with a kidney-shaped indusium and borne supramedially to medially, each on the end of a vein, margins ~ crenate = 2
2a. Pinnae with an obtuse apex, less than 50 mm long = 3
2b. Pinnae with an acute to attenuate apex, greater than 50 mm long = 4
3a. Rachis with scales, rarely hairy, basal auricles of pinnae overlapping rachis = Nephrolepis cordifolia
3b. Rachis with hairs, rarely scaley, basal auricles of pinnae not usually overlapping rachis = Nephrolepis arida
4a. Pinnae with an acroscopic basal auricle; all parts hirsute = 5
4b. Pinnae lacking a distinct acroscopic basal auricle, indumentum sparse = 5
5a. Hairs on upper side of costae absent; rachis scales rufous, with strongly dentate acumen; sori submarginal = Nephrolepis hirsutula
5b. Hairs on upper side of costa present; rachis scales hyaline or light brown (rarely rufous), with nearly entire acumen; sori submedial = Nephrolepis brownii
6a. Sori borne close to margin, stolons densely scaly = Nephrolepis biserrata
6b Sori borne medially, stolons green with few scales = Nephrolepis obliterata

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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