Lygodium flexuosum

Schizeaceae

Lygodium flexuosum (L.) Sw.

Link to Australian Plant Name Index for publication details and synonyms: https://id.biodiversity.org.au/name/apni/100374

Rhizome short-creeping. Juvenile fronds once-forked; pinnae palmate, 5–7-lobed; margins crenulate to serrulate. Rachis slightly pubescent, subterete, flattened on 1 side, narrowly winged or tetragonous; primary rachis branches 2–16 mm long; secondary pinnae narrowly ovate to oblong or rarely palmate, 7–20 cm long, 4.5–12 cm wide, 1–2-pinnate; pinnule stalks reducing in length towards pinna apex; ultimate pinnules 1.5–10 cm long, 5–16 mm wide; sterile ones sometimes fused basally and palmately-lobed, membranous, glabrous or sparsely pubescent; base truncate; margins serrulate; veins free; sterile pinnules similar in length or longer than sporogenous ones. Sporogenous lobes 1.5–8 mm long.

Widespread across tropical and subtropical coastal Australia. Also widespread in the Palaeotropics.

Terrestrial climber in lowland to lower montane vine forest and open forest, usually on margins, riparian or in open sites.

A common species that forms large climber towers on trees in some disturbed areas.

Lygodium microphyllum and Lygodium reticulatum.

1a. Lateral veins in pinnules forming a network = Lygodium reticulatum

1b. Lateral veins in pinnules not forming a network = 2

2a. Pinnules articulated at base, deciduous = Lygodium microphyllum

2b. Pinnules not articulated at base, persistent (look for dead pinnules hanging on frond) = Lygodium flexuosum