Australian Tropical Ferns and Lycophytes - Online edition

Christella subpubescens


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Close up of frond showing sori. © G. Sankowsky
Close up of frond showing sori. © G. Sankowsky
Complete frond. © A.R. Field
Habit. © G. Sankowsky
Rhizome and stipe scales. © G. Sankowsky
Family

Thelypteridaceae

Botanical name

Christella subpubescens (Blume) Holttum

Link to Australian Plant Name Index for publication details and synonyms: https://id.biodiversity.org.au/name/apni/67694

Description

Rhizome short-creeping. Fronds tufted, commonly 60–80 cm long. Stipe minutely hairy. Lamina ovate, membranous to firmly herbaceous, glossy green; pinnae c. 10–15 cm long, 1.5–2.5 cm wide, 8–16 pairs; several lower pairs progressively reduced in length, their acroscopic auricles rather small, entire or crenate; largest pinnae lobed one-quarter to one-third of distance to costa; in small plants at least one and a half pairs of veins anastomosing and the next pair ending beside the sinus membrane; in larger plants 2 – two and a half pairs anastomosing to form a zig-zag, excurrent vein; hairs on lower surface of rachis, costae and costules to 0.1 mm long; abaxial surface between veins minutely hairy, usually with some very short capitate hairs; hairs between veins on upper surface usually present, minute, suberect. Sori medial; indusium rather large, thin, glabrous or minutely hairy. 

Distribution

Wet Tropics of NE Queensland between Bloomfield and Herbert Rivers. Also widespread in Malesia and Pacific Islands.

Habit and habitat

Terrestrial in lowland to mid-montane vine forest. Usually on disturbed banks in open areas.

Cultivation

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

Citation of Australian Tropical Ferns and Lycophytes

Field AR, Quinn CJ, Zich FA (2022) Australian Tropical Ferns and Lycophytes. apps.lucidcentral.org/fern/text/intro/index.htm (accessed online INSERT DATE).

Field AR, Quinn CJ, Zich FA (2022) ‘Platycerium superbum’, in Australian Tropical Ferns and Lycophytes. apps.lucidcentral.org/fern/text/entities/platycerium_superbum.htm (accessed online INSERT DATE).

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