Scientific Name: Cystopteris tasmanica
Common Name: brittle bladderfern
Family Classification (Clade): Pteridophytes
Family: Athyriaceae
Form Description: Fronds delicate, brittle, thin-textured, pale green, once-divided.
Height (m): 0.05 – 0.3
Municipality
Plant Communities
Habitat Notes
Uncommon highland species. Usually occurs at about 1000m but also found on the Huon River near Scotts Peak. Confined to very sheltered rock ledges, crevices or boulder grottos, often close to running water. May also grow from the rubble at the base of rock formations usually on limestone, dolerite or basalt.
Site Tolerance
Moist, Rocky
Soil Tolerance
Nutrient-poor, Well-drained
General Notes
A tiny fern, very difficult to grow and resents disturbance. Needs cool, moist, humid conditions. Best grown in a bottle, aquarium or terrarium.
Propagation Calendar
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Flowering Month
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Seed Collecting Month
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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 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.
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.