Lindsaea obtusa

Lindsaeaceae

Lindsaea obtusa J.Sm.

Link to Australian Plant Name Index for publication details and synonyms: https://id.biodiversity.org.au/name/apni/113496

Rhizome short-creeping, 1–2.5 mm diam.; scales to 1.5 mm long, medium brown. Fronds monomorphic. Stipes closely spaced, mostly 4–25 cm long, much shorter to longer than lamina, stramineous to blackish. Lamina 1-pinnate or 2-pinnate, with 1–2 (–3) pairs of strongly ascending lateral pinnae and a similar terminal one. Pinnae (4–) 8–20 cm long, 1–3 cm wide. Pinnules closely spaced throughout but not contiguous, mostly asymmetrically flabellate, shortly stalked, to 10–16 mm long and 5–7 mm wide, scarcely narrower at pinna base, gradually and strongly reduced towards pinna apex, herbaceous to chartaceous; basiscopic margin entire; acroscopic and distal margins incised; veins anastomosing. Sori 1–several at vein endings, broken by incisions; indusium 0.2–0.7 mm wide, not extending to margin, pale to medium brown, entire or slightly irregular. Spores trilete, yellowish, smooth. 

Iron Range to Eungella NE QLD. Also in SE QLD and Malesia.

Terrestrial or lithophytic in rock cracks near creeks in mesic low to upper montane vine forest.

The combination of short creeping rhizome, anastomosing veins and closely-spaced asymmetrically flabellate pinnae with discontinuous marginal sori distinguish this species from other Australian Lindsaea.