Oleandra musifolia

Oleandraceae

Oleandra musifolia Blume

Link to Australian Plant Name Index for publication details and synonyms: https://id.biodiversity.org.au/name/apni/8029167

Rhizome held above substratum by long rigid aerial roots, densely covered with peltate or medifixed elongate red-brown scales with pale margins bearing short or long marginal cilia. Stipes scattered in clusters between long, leafless portions of rhizome, to 18 (–20) mm long, with articulation usually to 6 (rarely to 13) mm from base. Lamina chartaceous, 14–38 (–52) cm long, tapering to base and long-acuminate apex, mostly glabrous or with occasional scattered ciliate scales or simple hairs; margins entire. Sori usually in a regular row along lamina, near proximal ends of veins; indusium reniform, thickened at attachment, with an outer diaphanous portion and (sometimes) marginal cilia. 

NE QLD from Windsor Tableland to Eungella. Also in Malesia.

Epiphytic or lithophytic in mesic mid- to upper-montane vine forest. Usually a canopy- or subcanopy-epiphyte and sometimes inhabiting the dying nests of Drynaria and Platycerium.

This unusual fern is the only epiphytic species in Australia to have stilt roots. It can be readily identified by having widely-spaced strap like fronds with rounded sori placed close to the costa.

Can be cultivated in a container or in the top of a nest-fern in a moist tropical or subtropical garden. The scrambling nature of this epiphyte make it difficult to contain.