Tmesipteris truncata

Psilotaceae

Tmesipteris truncata (R.Br.) Desv.

Link to Australian Plant Name Index for publication details and synonyms: https://id.biodiversity.org.au/name/apni/97022

Epiphytic or terrestial plants. Aerial shoots pendulous or suberect, unbranched, 6–39 cm long, growing for one or a number of seasons and terminating in a small or large sterile or rarely sporogenous leaf; lower portion of shoot below leaves ribbed on all sides. Leaves spirally arranged, 2–4 per cm, 8–35 mm long, 1.5–5 mm wide in distal half, tapering to base; upper surface very shiny; lower surface dull; margins parallel; apex truncate or more rarely obtuse, mucronate. Synangia in upper half of shoot biconic, abruptly tapering or obtuse, persistent, 3.5–5.5 mm long; length 2–3 times height. 

NE QLD to SE NSW. Also widespread in the Pacific.

Terrestrial, epiphytic or lithophytic in rainforest and wet sclerophyll forest. Commonly grows from the trunks of various tree ferns.

Rarely cultivated as they are difficult to grow.

Key to tropical Australian Tmesipteris spp.:

1a. Synangium lobes pointed = Tmesipteris truncata

1b. Synangium lobes rounded = 2

2a. Leaves concolourous, shiny on both surfaces = Tmesipteris ovata

2b. Leaves discolorous, shiny on upper surface, dull on lower surface = Tmesipteris lanceolata