DRYOPTERIDACEAE

Leathery shield fern, Shield hare's-foot

 

fronds 1.2m (120cm) 

None 

Spores 

Has long, creeping, scaly rhizome; glossy, leathery , triangular fronds, semi-erect; stipesgrooved on upper surface. 

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

Coastal Vegetation; Dry Eucalypt Forest and Woodland; Rainforest; Wet eucalypt forest and fern gullies 

Widespread and abundant to 500m (rarely to 900m) in rainforest, wet sclerophyll forest, fern gullies and sheltered rock outcrops within dry sclerophyll forest and coastal scrub. Sometimes also epiphytic on Dicksonia and a range of tree species.Will tolerate salt laden winds in coastal situations. 

Dry; Moist; Rocky; Shady 

Hardy 

Fertile; Loam; Poor; Sandy; Well-drained; Epiphytic on dicksonia or tree species; Rotting logs and tree stumps 

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. 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. Resents disturbance. Suitable below powerlines. 

Spores borne on dark rounded sori with shield-like indusia.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. 

 

 

 

 

 

Very easy to grow once established. Resents disturbance and is best grown on a slab or basket in epiphyte mixture.