GLEICHENIACEAE

Scrambling coral-fern

 

1.0m - 3.0m (100-300cm) long 

None 

Spores 

Fern forming tangled colonies, fronds; wiry, branching many times, dark green to yellowish; pinnules; triangular, flat. 

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

Dry Eucalypt Forest and Woodland; Heath; Riparian 

Common and widespread in badly drained and permanently wet soils of heathland, watercourse margins and dry sclerophyll forest This species and G. dicarpa have similar requirements and distribution and the two species frequently grow together. Tolerates salt laden winds in coastal situations. 

Exposed; Moist; Waterlogged; Windy; Salt laden winds 

 

Poor; Poorly-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. After 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. Prick out sporelings when the second frond appears. Sporelings are established easily but plants resent lime and fertilizers and must not be allowed to dry out. Sunny situations are favoured. 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.