Lycopodiaceae
Australian Tropical Ferns and Lycophytes - Online edition
Phlegmariurus squarrosus
Phlegmariurus squarrosus (G.Forst.) A.Love & D.Love
Link to Australian Plant Name Index for publication details and synonyms: https://id.biodiversity.org.au/name/apni/242312
Rock Tassel-Fern, Water Tassel-Fern
Epiphytic or lithophytic plants. Branches tufted, pendulous or erect, but arched to nodding distally, undivided or 1–several times branched, 30–75 cm long; sterile portion (including leaves) 1.5–3 cm diam. Leaves subwhorled to spirally arranged, thin, firm, angled at 60–90° to axis, twisted near base, linear-lanceolate, attenuate, entire, 10–20 mm long, 1–2 mm wide, pale green to yellowish green. Transition from sterile to sporogenous zone gradual. Sporogenous zone 10–30 cm long, 7–10 mm diam., undivided or once-forked. Sporophylls linear-lanceolate, whorled, imbricate, subappressed, abruptly contracting above base into a long, attenuated upper portion that is spreading but apically directed, 5–7 mm long, 1.5–2 mm wide. Sporangia occupying one-sixth of the sporophyll length.
Daintree to Tully in NE QLD. Also widespread but scarce throughout the Palaeotropics.
A lithophyte or subcanopy epiphyte on riparian trees, usually near watercoarses.
Best cultivated in a hanging container of coarse free draining mix or in a nest-fern in a tropical shaded garden or fernery. This species is less tolerant of cool conditions.
Can be distinguished from other Australian Phlegmariurus by bottlebrush like shoots of slender spreading lycophylls and sporophylls.
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).