Sticherus milnei

Gleicheniaceae

Sticherus milnei (Baker) Ching

Link to Australian Plant Name Index for publication details and synonyms: https://id.biodiversity.org.au/name/apni/119116

Rhizome long-creeping, 2–2.5 mm diam., bearing entire and obscurely toothed scales near apex, glabrescent, smooth. Frond of 2–4 tiers of opposite primary branches which in turn are divided 5 or more times; leaflets of first fork deeply lobed; dormant buds not obvious. Stipe 18–56 cm or more long, glabrous or with a few persistent basal scales; rachis bearing brown ciliate scales and substellate hairs above and below. Ultimate segments linear, 8–24 mm long, 1.5–2.5 mm wide, entire, angled at c. 90° to axis, glabrous above, pale green below and bearing brown ciliate scales and substellate and simple hairs especially along costae. Sori of 3–5 (–6) sporangia intermixed with hyaline paraphyses, in 2 rows, half-way between margin and midrib; sporangia stramineous, often longitudinally streaked purple, c. 0.2 mm diam.

Known from Captain Billy Scrub and William Thompson Range on Cape York Peninsula QLD. Also in Malesia and Pacific Islands.

Terrestrial in rainforest and open forest on springs and permanent creeks.