Microsorum australiense

Polypodiaceae

Microsorum australiense (F.M.Bailey) Bostock

Link to Australian Plant Name Index for publication details and synonyms: https://id.biodiversity.org.au/name/apni/178048

Rhizome short-creeping, dorsiventrally flattened, scaly. Scales ovate to broadly ovate, 2–5.5 mm long, 1–2 mm wide, blackish brown; cells ±uniform; margins finely dentate; apex long-acuminate, acute. Fronds to 52 cm long, 3–10 mm apart. Stipe obscure, to c. 0.5 cm long. Lamina narrowly elliptic, 9–51 cm long, 0.9–4 cm wide, thin but fleshy, brittle, bright green (sometimes bluish green), tapering to an acute apex; base narrowing gradually into stipe; margins entire or slightly undulate; midrib pale green, prominent; main lateral veins angled at 45°–50° to rachis; remaining venation not obvious. Sori numerous, 0.5–1.5 mm diam., scattered over lower surface of the upper half to two-thirds of frond, not or only very slightly impressed into lamina. Spores 57.5–100 µm long, 37.5–67.5 µm wide. 

Endemic to NE QLD between Mt Finnegan and Paluma Range.

A canopy epiphyte in mesic lower- to upper- montane rainforest. Habitat usually differs from the similar Microsorum punctatum.

May be a polyploid.

As for Microsorum grossum but more suited to moister cooler areas.

Similar to Microsorum punctatum

 1a. Plants epiphytic, rhizome short-creeping, dorsiventrally flattened, lamina thin, bright green, <4 cm wide, lateral veins 45-50 degrees to midrib, spores 100 x 67 µµ<SPAN style='FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Calibri",sans-serif; LINE-HEIGHT: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman">m</SPAN> = <I><A href="microsorum_punctatum.htm">Microsorum punctatum</A></I></P> <P>&nbsp;</P>