Australian Tropical Ferns and Lycophytes - Online edition

Schizaea dichotoma

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Frond. © A.R. Field

Frond. © G. Sankowsky

Close up of frond showing sori. © G. Sankowsky

Habit. © CSIRO

Habit. © G. Sankowsky

Frond. © A.R. Field

Family

Schizeaceae

Botanical name

Schizaea dichotoma (L.) Sm.

Link to Australian Plant Name Index for publication details and synonyms: https://id.biodiversity.org.au/name/apni/116177

Description

Rhizome short-creeping, densely clothed with glossy dark brown hairs. Fronds clustered, erect, (3.5–) 10–50 cm long, scabrid; unbranched portion 1–2 mm wide, subterete, flattened on 1 side, brown near base, clothed with long brown hairs, green above; hairs scattered; sterile frond shorter than sporogenous frond, dividing above middle into a dichotomously branched, flabellate portion, with 20–180 flat asperous acute branchlets; sporogenous frond similar, but branching more open; sporogenous heads 7–15 mm long, 1–3 times longer than broad; segments 3–9 mm long, scabrid; margins with numerous long hairs. Sporangia mixed with hairs.

Distribution

Widespread across tropical and subtropical coastal Australia.

Habit and habitat

Terrestrial, usually in vine forest, particularly beach scrubs and sandy areas adjacent watercourses. Also in rocky areas in open mid-montane vine forest.

Cultivation

Considered difficult to propagate and establish.

Citation of Australian Tropical Ferns and Lycophytes

Field AR, Quinn CJ, Zich FA (2022) Australian Tropical Ferns and Lycophytes. apps.lucidcentral.org/fern/text/intro/index.htm (accessed online INSERT DATE).

Field AR, Quinn CJ, Zich FA (2022) ‘Platycerium superbum’, in Australian Tropical Ferns and Lycophytes. apps.lucidcentral.org/fern/text/entities/platycerium_superbum.htm (accessed online INSERT DATE).

Web edition hosted at https://apps.lucidcentral.org/ferns