Pteridaceae
Australian Tropical Ferns and Lycophytes - Online edition
Pellaea muelleri
Pellaea muelleri (Hook.) A.R.Field
Link to Australian Plant Name Index for publication details and synonyms: https://id.biodiversity.org.au/name/apni/51347192
Silver Resurrection Fern
Rhizome short-creeping; scales narrowly triangular, c. 1.5 mm long, with a thick black central band and pale membranous borders. Fronds 8–40 cm long. Stipes closely spaced, covered with fawn narrowly triangular scales with toothed margins, mixed with smaller uniseriate hairs. Lamina simple when young, becoming 1-pinnate. Terminal pinna often fused with the first lateral pair forming a 3-lobed pinna. Lateral pinnae ovate to ±round, 1–3 cm long; margins entire; apices obtuse; both surfaces bearing ovate to narrowly ovate scales which are often abruptly broadened about their middle, have a narrowly attached heart-shaped base and long-ciliate margins; scales on the lower surface dense, pale brown, those on the upper surface sparse and white. Sorus forming a discontinuous marginal band c. 3 mm wide.
Endemic to NE QLD where it occurs from the
Terrestrial among rocks in the ground layer of seasonally-xeric vine forest in areas protected from fire. Not usually a mesic rainforest species.
This fern has the ability to desiccate and rehydrate depending on water availability. In the dry season when it is desiccated the lamina rolls upwards and becomes hard and leathery and when rehydrated at the beginning of the wet season it spreads to its original shape.
This species is an attractive ornamental fern but resents disturbance. Propagated plants can be readily grown in containers or in a rockery in tropical
Similar to Pellaea reynoldsii from inland Australia. Pellaea muelleri has a short-creeping rhizome whereas Pellaea reynoldsii has a long-creeping rhizome.
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).