Prosaptia maidenii

Polypodiaceae

Prosaptia maidenii (Watts) Parris

Link to Australian Plant Name Index for publication details and synonyms: https://id.biodiversity.org.au/name/apni/178040

Lamina (5.3–) 10.1–20.9 (–27) cm long, 1.2–2.7 (–3.6) cm wide; pinnae 18–42 (–60) pairs; longest pinnae 8–16 (–22) mm long, 2–5 mm wide; margins entire or crenulate; hairs of 2 types, dark red-brown, simple, 0.2–1.5 mm long, eglandular, and forked hairs, 0.2–1 mm long, on margin and both surfaces of rachis and lamina. Sori deeply sunken in steep-sided pits with rim 0.2–0.5 mm tall, opening ±at right angles to lamina or angled towards margin.

Endemic to NE QLD between Iron Range and Eungella.

Epiphytic or lithophytic in mesic vine forest.

Key to Australian Prosaptia spp.;

1a. Sori not sunken in pits with a raised rim, sori medial, not protruding beyong the lamina margin = Prosaptia fuscopilosa

1b. Sori sunken in pits with a raised rim, sori supra-medial to submarginal resulting in a protrusion on the lamina margin = 2

2a. Sori in pouches on the margin, few pairs, restricted to the lobe apex = Prosaptia contigua

2b. Sori in rimmed depressions, several pairs, not restricted to the lobe apex = Prosaptia maidenii