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Scientific Name
Ctenopteris heterophylla
Family Name
GRAMMITIDACEAE
Common Name
Gypsy fern
Status
Height
0.1m - 0.3m (10-30cm) long
Flowers
Fruit
Spores
Form
Fronds weeping, leathery, broad, dull, lobed, winged, broadest towards middle.
Municipalities
Break O'Day; Burnie; Central Coast; Central Highlands; Circular Head; Derwent Valley; Dorset; Flinders Island; Glamorgan-Spring Bay; Hobart; Huon Valley; Kentish; King Island; Kingborough; Latrobe; Launceston; Meander Valley; Northern Midlands; Sorell; Tasman; Waratah-Wynyard; West Coast; West Tamar
Communities
Dry Eucalypt Forest and Woodland; Rainforest; Wet Eucalypt Forest; Coastal gullies
Habitat Notes
Common and widespread in lowland areas of moderate to high rainfall in rainforest, wet sclerophyll forest, fern gullies and sheltered rock outcrops within dry sclerophyll forest. Grows on logs, rocks or as an epiphyte on a range of tree species. Most abundant in near-coastal gullies and scrub.
Site Tolerance
Dry; Moist; Rocky
Frost Tolerance
Soil Tolerance
Fertile; Loam; Poor; Sandy; Well-drained; Epiphytic
General Notes
Has proved very difficult to keep growing and has been tried with a range of treaments in various conditions. Plants have survived for fairly long periods in a large bottle. Suitable below powerlines.
Propagation Details
Propagation Calendar
Flowering Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Seed Collecting Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Sowing Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Cutting Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Seed Information
Seed Collection
Sori rounded or oblong.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
Seed Treatment Method
Standard
Seed Storage Life
Viable Seeds Per Gram
Seed Treatment Notes
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.
Germination Time
Suitable for Direct Seeding
Cuttings
Expected Time to Take Root
Expected Time to Plant Out
Propagation by Division
N.B. Transplant only from nearby to avoid disease.
Cutting Notes
Copyright 2000-2009, Understorey Network Incorporated. Updated 2024-12-11
Database development and website design by
Andrew Smith