Teratophyllum brightiae

Dryopteridaceae

Teratophyllum brightiae (F.Muell.) Holttum

Link to Australian Plant Name Index for publication details and synonyms: https://id.biodiversity.org.au/name/apni/64180

Rhizome slender, wiry, almost glabrous in the older parts, scaly at the apex; scales 2–3 mm long, appressed, dark brown to black. Fronds 1-pinnate; bathyphylls 10–25 cm long, 2–7 cm wide; pinnae oblong, up to c. 20 pairs, 2–3.5 cm long, c. 1 cm wide; acrophylls 25–75 cm long, 12–24 cm wide. Pinnae narrowly lanceolate to narrowly elliptic or linear, 6–12 cm long, 1–1.6 cm wide; apex often caudate with finely crenate margins. Fertile lamina 25–75 cm long, 10–24 cm wide; pinnae linear, 15–25 cm long, 1–2 mm wide.

Endemic to QLD, from NE to SE.

Terrestrial, lithophytic or epiphytic climbing fern in rainforest.

This species creeps on the ground and rocks when small and climbs up into trees when mature.