Tectaria siifolia

Tectariaceae

Tectaria siifolia (Willd.) Copel.

Link to Australian Plant Name Index for publication details and synonyms: https://id.biodiversity.org.au/name/apni/116615

Rhizome short-creeping, scaly; scales narrowly triangular, 3–5 mm long, purplish-brown with margins pale and deciduous-hairy. Fronds dimorphic. Stipe 20–30 cm long, longer in fertile fronds; basal scales like those of the rhizome; suprabasal scales scattered, pale brown. Lamina 15–23 cm long with 1–3 pairs of pinnae; basal pinnae to 20 cm long, 5 cm wide, with a basal basiscopic lobe to 15 cm long and 3.5 cm wide; suprabasal pinnae entire, acuminate, to 18 cm long and 4 cm wide; venation reticulate; areoles containing free branched veinlets; lower surface minutely and sparsely hairy on costae and main veins; upper surface glabrous except on the rachis and bases of costae. Fertile lamina much smaller in all parts; venation forming fewer areoles with few included veinlets. Sori rather irregular, large when mature, in 1 row on each side of the lateral veins in pinnae, on connected veins (not on the free veinlets); adjacent sori near costae sometimes confluent; indusium very small, only on immature sori.

Known from two populations in Australia, one on Cape York QLD and one in Arnhem Land NT. Also in Asia and Malesia.

Terrestrial in dense lowland rainforest, usually in riparian areas.

Readily cultivated in a greenhouse or garden in a tropical climate. Grows well in a container or tub of moist free draining growing medium.

Tectaria brachiata and Tectaria confluens.

1a. Free included veinlets absent in costal areoles = T. devexa

1b. Free included veinlets present in costal areoles = 2

2a. Fronds not strongly dimorphic, usually with only one pair of pinnae dissected to midrib = T. confluens

2b. Fronds strongly dimorphic, those of mature plants with 2 or more pairs of pinnae = 3

3a. Supramedial pinnae of fertile fronds lobed = T. brachiata

3b. Supramedial pinnae of fertile fronds entire or nearly so = T. siifolia.