Australian Tropical Ferns and Lycophytes - Online edition

Phlegmariurus phlegmarioides


Click/tap on images to enlarge
Close up of frond showing sporophylls. © M. Fagg, APII
Frond. © A.R. Field
Habit. © A.R. Field
Family

Lycopodiaceae

Botanical name

Phlegmariurus phlegmarioides (Gaudich.) A.R.Field & Bostock

Link to Australian Plant Name Index for publication details and synonyms: https://id.biodiversity.org.au/name/apni/242310

Common name

Layered Tassel-Fern

Description

Epiphytic plants. Branches tufted, at first erect, becoming arched to pendulous, branched several times, 40–80 cm long; sterile portion (including leaves) 12–18 mm diam. Leaves arranged in 4 rows, coriaceous, stiff, angled at 40° to axis, ovate to lanceolate, acute, entire, adnate to branch, decurrent, 8–15 mm long, 3–6 mm wide, bright green to yellow-green. Transition from sterile to sporogenous zone abrupt. Sporogenous zone 2–20 cm long, 1.5–2 mm diam., 1–several times forked. Sporophylls ovate, acute, opposite, decussate, appressed, 2–3.5 mm long, 1.5–1.7 mm wide. Sporangia one-third to slightly less than the sporophyll length.

Distribution

Iron Range in Cape York to Hinchinbrook Island NE QLD, usually at low altitudes. Also in Malesia and Polynesia.

Habit and habitat

Epiphytic in rainforest.

Cultivation

Best cultivated in a hanging container of coarse free draining mix or in a nest-fern in a tropical shaded garden or fernery. This species is less tolerant of cool conditions.

Similar species

Can be distinguished from other Australian Phlegmariurus by the heterophyllous shoots and lycophylls spreading in four planes.

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).

Copyright © Australian Tropical Herbarium 2022, all rights reserved.