Scientific Name: Hymenophyllum applanatum Endemic Having a natural distribution confined to a particular geographic region
Common Name: skeleton filmyfern
Family Classification (Clade): Pteridophytes
Family: Hymenophyllaceae
Form Description: Small filmy fern in clumps; fronds, 5-20cm long, rusty coloured on thin, wiry stems, stellate hairs.
Height (m): 0.05 – 0.2
Municipality
Plant Communities
Habitat Notes
Restricted to high rainfall areas of the west and south. Seems to be epiphytic on Athrotaxis selaginoides from 680m to 1080m and Athrotaxis cupressoides from 950m to 1120m. Also found at lower altitudes. It is also lithophytic on quartzitic or schistose rocks. Found rarely on sandstone and on Banksia marginata.
Site Tolerance
Moist, Rocky, Shady
Soil Tolerance
Well-drained
General Notes
Epiphytic, Lithophytic. Difficult to maintain in cultivation – dies out easily. Requires cool humid conditions with some air movement. Best in a terrarium or very humid fernery.
Propagation Calendar
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Flowering Month
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Seed Collecting Month
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Sowing Month
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Cutting Month
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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.