Hymenophyllum pallidum

Hymenophyllaceae

Hymenophyllum pallidum (Blume) Ebihara & K.Iwats.

Link to Australian Plant Name Index for publication details and synonyms: https://id.biodiversity.org.au/name/apni/241950

Rhizome 0.25–0.5 mm diam., forming a dense hairy mat; hairs fine, sparse, whitish to golden red. Fronds 8–16 cm long, pendulous. Stipe wiry, 1–5.5 cm long, not winged. Lamina ovate-lanceolate, deeply 2–3-pinnatifid, 6–12 cm long, 1–5 cm wide, ±glaucous, with multi-stratose lamina ±covered with pale brown jointed hairs on either side of the axes and veins (the degree of glaucousness and of hairiness variable); margins entire, thickened. Ultimate segments c. 0.8 mm wide; apex acute to rounded. Sori terminal on basal acroscopic pinna segments; involucre cup-shaped with a narrow, ±pointed base, 1.2–1.8 mm long, 0.6–1 mm diam.; mouth truncate, slightly dilated, entire or ±crenate; receptacle shortly exserted to 0.8 mm beyond the mouth. 

Occurs in NE QLD between Thornton Range and Kirrama Range. Also in Sri Lanka, Malesia and the Pacific Islands.

Forms dense to sparse mats on rocks, logs and tree trunks in tropical rainforest.

Readily distinguished from other filmy ferns by its glaucous blue colour and by the pale hairs on the lamina.