DENNSTAEDTIACEAE

Bat's wing fern

 

0.5m - 2.0m (50-200cm) 

None 

Spores 

Fern; rootstock, wiry, with reddish hairs, fronds; 2-4 times pinnate, pale green, soft, lowest pinnae at angle resembling bat's wing 

Break O'Day; Burnie; Central Coast; Central Highlands; Circular Head; Derwent Valley; Devonport; 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 

Wet Eucalypt Forest; High rainfall areas 

Widespread and abundant throughout the State; broadly absent from areas of low rainfall and less common in exposed alpine situations.It is a n opportunistic species, colonising disturbed sites on the margins of, or in, wet forest. Has similar distribution as Hypolepis rugosula but tolerates lower light. 

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. 

Sori; linear, marginal, covered by reflex frond margin.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. 

 

 

 

 

Yes 

May be propagated by division of clumps. This species is not popular because it can easily spread and smother other plants. It is an attractive fern for large gardens, or in a large container. Requires well-drained loamy soil and mulching. Once established, plants are fairly tolerant of dry periods but respond to regular watering.