Scientific Name: Asplenium flabellifolium
Common Name: necklace fern
Family Classification (Clade): Pteridophytes
Family: Aspleniaceae
Form Description: Small fern forming large spreading patches, fronds pale green, once divided.
Height (m): 0.05 – 0.2
Municipality
Plant Communities
Habitat Notes
Widespread and abundant in dry rocky places and occasional in fern gullies in all parts except western Tasmania. 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.
Site Tolerance
Dry, Exposed, Moist, Rocky, Shady
Soil Tolerance
Nutrient-poor, Well-drained
General Notes
Epiphytic on dicksonia. Suits hanging baskets if watered regularly. Quite hardy but eagerly attacked by slugs and snails.
Propagation Calendar
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Flowering Month
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec -
Seed Collecting Month
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec -
Sowing Month
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec -
Cutting Month
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Propagation Method
Seed Information
Seed Collection
Collect spores when mature on the frond. Unripe sori are generally light green then change to yellowish-brown and to dark brown or black when mature. Place fronds, or portions of fronds, containing ripe spores in a paper bag and leave 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. Some species produce large quantities of spores from one frond, others require many fronds to produce similar quantities. Bulbils (to include part of parent plant) may be removed with scissors.
Seed Treatment Method
Standard Scatter seed thinly on to damp potting mix. Hold seed in place by covering with more potting mix to approximately the depth of the seed size.
Seed Treatment Notes
Use a moisture-retaining medium and a pot that allows drainage. Sterilise medium and container with boiling water. Sow spores by sprinkling a small amount onto the surface of the medium. Cover immediately with clean glass or plastic wrap. Leave in a warm area in strong, but not direct, sunlight. Specks of green appear after 2-4 weeks. These are the young prothalli. 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. Take care to avoid drying out. Prick out sporelings when the second frond appears.
Cutting & Division Information
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.