Scientific Name: Pneumatopteris pennigera

Common Name: lime fern

Family Classification (Clade): Pteridophytes

Family: Thelypteridaceae

Threatened Species Status: Endangered

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

Form Description: Clump-forming fern; rootstock erect, short trunk; fronds, 40-110cm long, erect in tussock; pinnae broad-based, deeply lobed, lower pinnae reduced.

Height (m): 0.4 – 1.1

Municipality
BurnieKing IslandMeander ValleyWaratah-Wynyard
Plant Communities
Riparian
Habitat Notes

Very rare in Tasmania. Restricted to several sites in the north-west and King Island. Found in riparian situations or soaks. Will tolerate boggy soils and most frosts.

Site Tolerance

Moist, Shady, Waterlogged

Soil Tolerance

Nutrient-poor, Poorly-drained

Frost Tolerance

Hardy

General Notes

Can be grown successfully with regular addition of lime. Needs filtered sun or partial sun and plenty of water.

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 round lacking indusia. 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

Can be propagated by division.