ADIANTACEAE

Rock fern

 

 

None 

Spores 

Small fern. In all but very sheltered sites top growth collapses in summer. 

Break O'Day; Brighton; Central Highlands; Circular Head; Clarence; Devonport; Dorset; Georgetown; Glamorgan-Spring Bay; Glenorchy; Hobart; Kentish; Kingborough; Latrobe; Launceston; Meander Valley; Northern Midlands; Southern Midlands; Tasman; West Tamar 

Coastal Vegetation; Dry Eucalypt Forest and Woodland; Fern Gullies 

Common and widespread in the eastern half of the state, from sea level to 300 m. but may be up to 680m. Grows in welldrained and seasonally dry habitats in a thin soil layer over rock, in a rock-gravel matrix in dry sclerophyll forest or on the upper slopes of fern gullies. Also common on rocky outcrops indry forest. 

Dry; Moist; Rocky; Shady 

 

Poor; Well-drained; Prefers dolerite soils to granite 

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. Some species produce vast quantities of spores from one frond, others require dozens of fronds to produce the same amount.After sowing specks of green appear after 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. Suitable below powerlines. 

Sori are on margins of segments protected by folded leaf margins.spores are collected when mature on the frond. unripe sori aregenerally light green then change to yellowish brown and to dark brown or black when mature 

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 medium. Cover immediately with clean glass or plastic wrap and leave in a warm area in strong light but not direct sunlight. 

 

No