Christella arida

Thelypteridaceae

Christella arida (D.Don) Holttum

Link to Australian Plant Name Index for publication details and synonyms: https://id.biodiversity.org.au/name/apni/67651

Rhizome slender, long-creeping. Fronds to 2 m long. Stipe 15–30 cm long. Lamina elliptic, to 150 cm long; pinnae to 30 pairs; lower 3–5 pairs progressively decrescent and more widely spaced than suprabasal pinnae; basal pinnae c. 5–10 mm long, firm, not or scarcely auriculate; largest pinnae to 16 cm long, 1.8 cm wide, shallowly lobed; lobes with a short, stiff point; veins to 10 pairs, 11/2 pairs anastomosing and 3 pairs ending beside the sinus membrane which is prominent on the lower surface; veins on lower surface of pinna lobes with thick elongate glandular hairs; upper surface glabrous apart from hairs on costae. Sori medial; lower ones divergent; indusium glabrous or with some glandular and short, acicular hairs.

Scattered across the coast and hinterland of NE and E Queensland.

Terrestrial on the edge of shallow soaks in open forest and open woodland.

In inland NE Queensland it is observed on the edge of Pandanus groves.

Readily grown in a container or in the ground in a tropical garden or fernery. Can be invasive in some situations.