Pyrrosia confluens

Polypodiaceae

Pyrrosia confluens (R.Br.) Ching

Link to Australian Plant Name Index for publication details and synonyms: https://id.biodiversity.org.au/name/apni/75385

Confluent Felt Fern

Rhizome long-creeping, branched, 1–2 mm diam. Scales ovate to narrowly ovate, appressed, brown to greyish brown; margins pale, fringed with hairs which abrade with age; apices long, ±acute. Fronds simple, ±dimorphic. Stipes to 6 cm long, scattered. Lamina ovate, narrowly obovate to spathulate or narrowly elliptic to linear, (2–) 6–24 (–35) cm long, 0.5–2 cm wide, ±coriaceous, often thick, brittle, mid- to dark green, usually hairy above, paler and more densely hairy below, appearing silver, fawn or rust-coloured; base narrowly or broadly cuneate; margins entire to slightly undulate, sometimes inrolled; apex truncate, emarginate, or gradually tapering and rounded; midrib prominent on lower surface. Hydathodes often visible as small oval white deposits, marginal or abaxially submarginal. Sori 1.5–5 mm wide, usually occupying only apical part of frond, more rarely to about half-way down, fused into 2 oblong or elliptic patches, 1 on each side of midrib, or forming 2 rows of discrete or partly fused sori. Spores ±strongly bisculptate. 

From Windsor Tableland in NE QLD to NSW. Also Pacific Islands.

Epiphytic or lithophytic in mid to upper montane mesic vine forest. In tropical areas this is usually an upper montane species.

A drought tolerant species expressing CAM photosynthesis.

Easily cultivated in a pot, slab or on a tree in a moist tropical or subtropical garden.