Alsophila rebeccae

Cyatheaceae

Alsophila rebeccae F.Muell.

Link to Australian Plant Name Index for publication details and synonyms: https://id.biodiversity.org.au/name/apni/83634

Rhizome erect, to 6 m tall, to 10 cm diam., producing horizontal spreading suckers at base. Stipe very dark (rachis similar), c. 15 cm long; base densely covered with scales; scales to 15 mm long and 1 mm wide, very dark, with narrow fragile margins and filiform tips; pneumathodes on base of stipe deeply excavate, those on rachis shallow and widely spaced. Lamina to c. 2 m long; basal pinnae 3–4 cm long, succeeding ones progressively increasing to 50–60 cm long; distal ones sharply reduced below the terminal pinna; largest pinnules c. 6–7 cm long, 0.8–1.3 cm wide, adnate to the pinna rachis, broadly and ±deeply crenate; apices narrowly acuminate and serrate; bases of lower pinnules on large pinnae dilated; veins grouped under each marginal crenature; basal vein of each group often arising directly from the costa but always in close association with other veins; basal scales on costae dark, narrow, with pale fragile margins and setiform apices, grading to shorter paler scales. Sori on ±middle of each vein forming 1 or 2 irregular rows, exindusiate; paraphyses short, flat at base. 

Endemic to NE QLD between Iron Range and Shoalwater Bay.

Terrestrial in rainforest in a wide variety of situations. This is a common understorey tree-fern and forms colonies along roadsides in wet montane areas.

This is a common species on roadside banks in rainforest.