Phlegmariurus squarrosus

Lycopodiaceae

Phlegmariurus squarrosus (G.Forst.) A.Love & D.Love

Link to Australian Plant Name Index for publication details and synonyms: https://id.biodiversity.org.au/name/apni/242312

Rock Tassel-Fern, Water Tassel-Fern

Epiphytic or lithophytic plants. Branches tufted, pendulous or erect, but arched to nodding distally, undivided or 1–several times branched, 30–75 cm long; sterile portion (including leaves) 1.5–3 cm diam. Leaves subwhorled to spirally arranged, thin, firm, angled at 60–90° to axis, twisted near base, linear-lanceolate, attenuate, entire, 10–20 mm long, 1–2 mm wide, pale green to yellowish green. Transition from sterile to sporogenous zone gradual. Sporogenous zone 10–30 cm long, 7–10 mm diam., undivided or once-forked. Sporophylls linear-lanceolate, whorled, imbricate, subappressed, abruptly contracting above base into a long, attenuated upper portion that is spreading but apically directed, 5–7 mm long, 1.5–2 mm wide. Sporangia occupying one-sixth of the sporophyll length.

Daintree to Tully in NE QLD. Also widespread but scarce throughout the Palaeotropics.

A lithophyte or subcanopy epiphyte on riparian trees, usually near watercoarses.

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 bottlebrush like shoots of slender spreading lycophylls and sporophylls.