Vandenboschia johnstonensis

Hymenophyllaceae

Vandenboschia johnstonensis (F.M.Bailey) Copel.

Link to Australian Plant Name Index for publication details and synonyms: https://id.biodiversity.org.au/name/apni/113436

Rhizome 1–2 mm diam., long-creeping, with long, spreading hairs. Fronds 20–40 cm long. Stipe to 15 cm long, narrowly winged, hairy at the base. Lamina narrowly ovate, deeply 3–4-pinnatifid, very dark green, stiff and hard in texture, to 15–20 (–30) cm long, c. 10 cm wide, all axes narrowly winged. Ultimate segments linear, c. 0.25 mm wide; margins entire; apices obtuse. Sori borne on short segments towards the base of tertiary laminal segments, mostly on the side facing a pinna apex; involucre tubular, tapering towards the base, narrowly winged, c. 1.5 mm long, 0.5 mm wide; mouth truncate to slightly bilabiate; receptacle exserted to 10 mm beyond the mouth. 

Endemic to NE QLD, on the Atherton Tableland and Bellenden Ker Range, and also recorded in the McIlwraith Range.

Terrestrial or lithophytic in tropical rainforest, especially near creeks.