Scientific Name: Hymenophyllum cupressiforme

Common Name: common filmyfern

Family Classification (Clade): Pteridophytes

Family: Hymenophyllaceae

Form Description: Fern; rootstock, creeping, thread-like, much-branched; fronds bipinnate, 4-9cm long, dark green, crowded; indusium tubular.

Height (m): 0.04 – 0.09

Municipality
Break O’DayBurnieCentral CoastCentral HighlandsCircular HeadDerwent ValleyDorsetFlindersGeorge TownGlamorgan-Spring BayHobartHuon ValleyKentishKingboroughLatrobeLauncestonMeander ValleyNorthern MidlandsSorellSouthern MidlandsTasmanWaratah-WynyardWest CoastWest Tamar
Plant Communities
Dry Eucalypt ForestRainforestWet Eucalypt Forest
Habitat Notes

Widespread and abundant from sea level to sub-alpine shrubberies. Common on outermost limbs of tall rainforest trees and in seasonally dry sites or upper slopes of gullies where fronds may shrivel during dry periods.

Site Tolerance

Moist, Shady

Soil Tolerance

Fertile, Loam, Well-drained

General Notes

Adapts readily to cultivation and can be grown in a pot of fibrous mix with the base standing in water. Also suitable for bottle, terrarium or aquarium culture.

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

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.

Cutting & Division Information

Propagate by division.