Scientific Name: Hiya distans

Common Name: scrambling groundfern

Family Classification (Clade): Pteridophytes

Family: Dennstaedtiaceae

Threatened Species Status: Endangered

Permit: It is an offence to collect, disturb, damage or destroy this species unless under permit.

Form Description: Slender fern; rootstock: long-creeping with dark brown hairs; fronds narrow-ovate 2-3 times pinnate, dark green, harsh to touch.

Height (m): 0.3 – 0.6

Municipality
BurnieKing Island
Plant Communities
Sedgeland and Wetland
Habitat Notes

Very rare in Tasmania. Known only from the north-west and King Island in Tasmania. Occurs in moist, badly drained soils or on rotting logs in teatree and Melaleuca scrub or on margins of swampland. Tolerates light to moderate frosts. Recognise by bipinnate fronds with well-spaced pinnules.

Site Tolerance

Moist, Waterlogged

Soil Tolerance

Nutrient-poor, Poorly-drained

Frost Tolerance

Moderate

General Notes

Grows readily in a shady position and is not invasive. Grows best in loamy soil or where they can grow onto a rotting tree fern log. Also a successful container plant.

Propagation Calendar

  • 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
Specialist Method

Seed Information

Seed Collection

Sori – ovate. 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.

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

Propagate by division.