Lycopodiaceae
Australian Tropical Ferns and Lycophytes - Online edition
Phlegmariurus phlegmarioides
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
Layered Tassel-Fern
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.
Iron Range in Cape York to Hinchinbrook Island NE QLD, usually at low altitudes. Also in Malesia and Polynesia.
Epiphytic in rainforest.
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.
Can be distinguished from other Australian Phlegmariurus by the heterophyllous shoots and lycophylls spreading in four planes.
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).