ATHYRIACEAE

Austral lady fern

 

2.0m (200cm) 

 

Spores 

Large, soft, fleshy: rootstock forms a woody trunk in old plants.Fronds triangular 

Break O'Day; Burnie; Central Coast; Central Highlands; Circular Head; Derwent Valley; Georgetown; Glamorgan-Spring Bay; Huon Valley; Kentish; Meander Valley; Tasman; Waratah-Wynyard; West Coast; West Tamar 

Fern Gullies; Rainforest; Wet Eucalypt Forest 

Found in north and northwestern Tasmania sometimes locally abundant but with only scattered occurrences elsewhere. Grows in deep, fertile soils below 300m. Typically occurs indark, sheltered sites but colonies in more exposed sites have been observed frosted and frondless. 

Moist; Shady 

 

Fertile; Loam; Well-drained 

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. 

Spores are collected when mature on the frond. unripe sori are generally 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.