PTERIDACEAE

Netted brake

 

 

None 

Spores 

Terrestrial fern, rhizome tufted, erect; rhachis yellowish; fronds dark-green with netted interconnected veins of pinnules. 

Break O'Day; Burnie; Central Coast; Dorset; Glamorgan-Spring Bay; Huon Valley; King Island; Northern Midlands; Tasman; Waratah-Wynyard; West Coast; West Tamar 

Coastal Vegetation; Fern Gullies; Rainforest; Wet Eucalypt Forest 

Common in north-western Tasmania , rare elsewhere. Grows in wet and often boggy soils in rainforest, wet sclerophyll forest and fern gullies. Occurs in very sheltered lowland sites besides small watercourses or within drainage lines.Has also been observed in wooded bogs amidst coastal sand dunes. 

Moist; Shady; Waterlogged 

 

Fertile; Loam; Poor; Poorly-drained; Sandy; Well-drained 

Easily raised from spores.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. A fter 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. Resents disturbance. Best grown in a pot standing in water. Suitable below powerlines. 

Spores borne on linear sori.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.