Pyrrosia lanceolata

Polypodiaceae

Pyrrosia lanceolata (L.) Farw.

Link to Australian Plant Name Index for publication details and synonyms: https://id.biodiversity.org.au/name/apni/116262

Rhizome long-creeping, branched, c. 1.5–3 mm diam. Scales narrowly ovate, appressed, 1.2–5 mm long, 0.3–1 mm wide, with a long fragile hair-like apex, dark brown with pale ciliate margins. Stipes scattered, (0–) 0.5–4 cm long, sparsely hairy. Fronds dimorphic, fleshy, glossy above; adult fronds ±glabrescent, sometimes sparsely hairy below; midrib prominent below; other veins ±visible. Sterile lamina narrowly obovate to obovate or spathulate, occasionally narrowly ovate or narrowly elliptic, c. 3–12.5 cm long, 1–2.8 cm wide; base cuneate, tapering gradually into winged stipe; apex broadly rounded. Fertile lamina c. 5.5–17 cm long; lower part c. 0.5–2 cm wide, gradually tapering into winged stipe, often ±abruptly narrowed above; fertile part ±linear, c. 0.4–0.8 cm wide; apex ±obtuse. Sori round, to c. 1 mm diam., closely packed in rows corresponding to areoles, extending from midrib to margin, usually in distinct groups between main lateral veins when young, confined to upper one-third to two-thirds of the lamina. Spores 42.5–75 µm long, 20–45 µm wide, irregularly verrucose to distinctly bisculptate. 

Occurs in the eastern coast of northern Cape York Peninsula in NE QLD. Also widespread in Asia, Malesia and the Pacific Islands.

Epiphytic or lithophytic in lowland and lower montane vine forest, often in boulder pile vine forest.

A drought tolerant species expressing CAM photosynthesis.

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