OSMUNDACEAE

Austral king-fern

 

1.5m (150cm) 

None 

Spores 

Fern with massive, broad trunk, black and fibrous outside, fronds erect, numerous, bipinnate, leathery. 

Break O'Day; Burnie; Central Coast; Central Highlands; Circular Head; Derwent Valley; Devonport; Dorset; Flinders Island; Georgetown; Glamorgan-Spring Bay; Huon Valley; Kentish; King Island; Kingborough; Latrobe; Launceston; Meander Valley; Tasman; Waratah-Wynyard; West Coast; West Tamar 

Coastal Vegetation; Heath; Rainforest; Wet and dry eucalypt forest 

Common and widespread particularly in the north and west of the state. Occurs below 300m in rainforest, wet anddry sclerophyll forest, heathland and, less commonly, up to 500m on wet rock faces.Will tolerate boggy soils and salt laden winds in coastal situations. Appears to be intolerant of seasonally dry soils. 

Exposed; Moist; Shady; Waterlogged; Windy 

 

Fertile; Loam; Poor; Poorly-drained; Sandy; Well-drained; Wet rock faces 

Fronds, or portions of fronds, containing ripe spores can be placed in a paper bag which is left upright in a dry and draught-free place. Spores should begin to release immediately and all spores are released within days unless the species has tough, leathery fronds. Spores settle at the bottom of the bag. Spores are short-lived and should be sown fresh. After sowing specks of green appear within 2-4 weeks. These are the young prothalli and during the next 6-12 months they are at risk from overcrowding and pathogens. When the first fronds appear the sporelings can be slowly hardened by gradual removal of the container cover. Great care must be taken to avoid drying out. Prick out sporelings when the second frond appears. Slow growing. Suitable below powerlines. 

Globular sori on basal pinnae, naked on forked veins. appear as a brown powdery mass with age. old sori persistent; spores green.spores are collected when mature on the frond 

Standard 

 

 

Sow spores into a pot in a water retaining medium with good drainage. Sterilise medium & containerwith boiling water and sow spores bysprinkling a small amount onto the surface of the cooled medium. Cover immediately with clean glass or plastic wrap and leave in a warm area in strong light but not direct sunlight. 

 

 

 

 

 

This species is suitable for tub culture or easily grown in a protected position in the ground.