Asplenium baileyanum

Aspleniaceae

Asplenium baileyanum (Domin) Watts

Link to Australian Plant Name Index for publication details and synonyms: https://id.biodiversity.org.au/name/apni/105179

Bailey's Spleentwort

Lithophytic ferns with erect or semi-erect fronds. Rhizomes short-creeping, scaly. Stipe and rachis mostly dark brown becoming green near apex, slightly scaly; stipe 1.5–11 cm long, 0.5–1 mm diam. Lamina 2-pinnate at base, narrowly ovate or narrowly triangular, 6–20 cm long, 1.8–7 cm wide, dark green, thin, slightly scaly, sometimes bulbiferous near apex. Primary pinnae in 12–25 pairs, ovate to narrowly ovate; apices acute; longest pinnae at or near base, 1–4 cm long, 8–17 mm wide. Secondary pinnae elliptic or obovate; bases sessile or shortly stalked; margins entire; apices obtuse and toothed; longest pinnae 4–11 mm long, 2–8 mm wide. Sori to 4 mm long. Perispores dark with fimbriate wings and ±smooth lacunae; exospores 36.6–40.9 × 23.9–25.8 µm (means). 

Endemic to NE QLD between the Mt Windsor, and Evelyn Tableland.

Lithophytic on boulders or epiphytic on the bases of trees near creeks and waterfalls in high rainfall vine forest.

Named after Queensland Government botanist F.M. Bailey who collected the type on Mt Bellenden Ker during the Archibald Meston expedition.