ASPLENIACEAE

Necklace fern

 

0.05m - 0.2m (5-20cm) 

None 

Spores and bulbils 

Small fern forming large spreading patches, fronds pale green, once divided. 

Break O'Day; Brighton; Burnie; Central Coast; Central Highlands; Circular Head; Clarence; Derwent Valley; Dorset; Flinders Island; Georgetown; Glamorgan-Spring Bay; Glenorchy; Hobart; Huon Valley; Kentish; King Island; Kingborough; Latrobe; Launceston; Meander Valley; Northern Midlands; Sorell; Southern Midlands; Tasman; Waratah-Wynyard; West Coast; West Tamar 

Fern Gullies; Dry rocky places 

Widespread and abundant in dry rocky places and occasional in fern gullies in all parts except westernTasmania. Grows in a thin soil layer on rock ledges, crevices and amongst boulders and rubble in sunny and exposed sites and as a terrestrial fern in sheltered conditions. Rarely, as an epiphyte on Dicksonia. 

Dry; Exposed; Moist; Rocky; Shady 

 

Poor; Well-drained; Epiphytic on dicksonia 

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 aregenerally light green then change to yellowish brown and to dark brown or black when mature. bulbils (to include part of parent plant) may be removed with scissors 

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. 

 

 

 

 

Yes 

Commonly propagated from bulbils (plantlets produced along the fronds). Bulbils should be planted into a well-drained potting mix ensuring that its growing crown is not covered and that the lamina portion is covered to provide an anchor. The larger the bulbils used the better the chances of success. May also be propagated from division of the rhizomes. Quite hardy but eagerly attacked by slugs and snails.