Pellaea muelleri

Pteridaceae

Pellaea muelleri (Hook.) A.R.Field

Link to Australian Plant Name Index for publication details and synonyms: https://id.biodiversity.org.au/name/apni/51347192

Silver Resurrection Fern

Rhizome short-creeping; scales narrowly triangular, c. 1.5 mm long, with a thick black central band and pale membranous borders. Fronds 8–40 cm long. Stipes closely spaced, covered with fawn narrowly triangular scales with toothed margins, mixed with smaller uniseriate hairs. Lamina simple when young, becoming 1-pinnate. Terminal pinna often fused with the first lateral pair forming a 3-lobed pinna. Lateral pinnae ovate to ±round, 1–3 cm long; margins entire; apices obtuse; both surfaces bearing ovate to narrowly ovate scales which are often abruptly broadened about their middle, have a narrowly attached heart-shaped base and long-ciliate margins; scales on the lower surface dense, pale brown, those on the upper surface sparse and white. Sorus forming a discontinuous marginal band c. 3 mm wide. 

Endemic to NE QLD where it occurs from the Byerstown Range to Springsure.

Terrestrial among rocks in the ground layer of seasonally-xeric vine forest in areas protected from fire. Not usually a mesic rainforest species.

This fern has the ability to desiccate and rehydrate depending on water availability. In the dry season when it is desiccated the lamina rolls upwards and becomes hard and leathery and when rehydrated at the beginning of the wet season it spreads to its original shape.

This species is an attractive ornamental fern but resents disturbance. Propagated plants can be readily grown in containers or in a rockery in tropical Australia. Can be cultivated in a container or among rocks in the garden in a tropical climate. This species benefits from being kept on the dry side during cool months.

Similar to Pellaea reynoldsii from inland Australia. Pellaea muelleri has a short-creeping rhizome whereas Pellaea reynoldsii has a long-creeping rhizome.