Sticherus flabellatus

Gleicheniaceae

Sticherus flabellatus (R.Br.) H.St.John

Link to Australian Plant Name Index for publication details and synonyms: https://id.biodiversity.org.au/name/apni/65521

Rhizome 2–7 mm diam., sparsely to prominently tuberculate, initially bearing dark brown ciliate scales. Frond of 1–3 tiers of opposite primary branches which in turn are divided 2–3 times; leaflets of first fork simple or rarely pinnately lobed, often absent; dormant buds obvious. Stipe 7–95 cm long, glabrous except for persistent basal scales; rachis glabrous above; slender scales with long cilia below, mostly deciduous although persistent along margins. Ultimate segments linear, toothed along margins at least towards apex, angled at 45–50° to axis, glabrous above, glabrous below or with simple or branched white to brown hairs and slender ciliate scales, rarely pale green. Sori of 3–8 sporangia, lacking paraphyses, half-way between margin and midrib; sporangia stramineous to brown, 0.2–0.4 mm diam.

var. flabellatus

Ultimate segments 20–45 mm long, 2–3.5 mm wide; margins toothed in distal half or nearly to base; undersurface green to slightly glaucous; sporangia c. 0.4 mm diam.

var. compactus

Ultimate segments 6–15 (–20) mm long, 1–2 mm wide; margins toothed in distal half or only near apex; undersurface moderately to very glaucous, rarely green; sporangia 0.2–0.3 mm diam.

Occurs in Arnhem Land NT and from Torres Strait QLD to central coastal NSW. Also in Malesia and the Pacific Islands.

Terrestrial in mesic vine forest, wet sclerophyll forest and open woodland in a wide variety of situations. Usually occurs in or near creeks or on wet banks on rainforest margins.