| Rock felt fern | |
|---|---|
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| Rock felt fern atChatswood West growing onHawkesbury sandstone | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Division: | Polypodiophyta |
| Class: | Polypodiopsida |
| Order: | Polypodiales |
| Suborder: | Polypodiineae |
| Family: | Polypodiaceae |
| Genus: | Pyrrosia |
| Species: | P. rupestris |
| Binomial name | |
| Pyrrosia rupestris | |
Pyrrosia rupestris known as therock felt fern is a common fern of easternAustralia. Occurring as anepiphyte orlithophyte in areas of part shade and high moisture. Usually found in rainforest or moist eucalyptus forest. Often seen on rainforest trees, quite high above the ground. However, it grows as far west at the more aridWarrumbungle National Park. In drought it shrinks and becomes desiccated. With rain or mist the fern recovers well.
The namePyrrosia is from the Greek which refers to the flame colour of the hairs that cover the fronds on some species.Rupestris means growing near rocks. Rock felt fern grows fromVictoria north throughNew South Wales andQueensland toNew Guinea.
Leaves are round or tongue like in shape. 2 cm round, or up to 10 cm long and 1.5 cm broad. Sterile leaves round, fertile leaves long and tongue shaped. Round darksori (spores) seen under the long leaves.Rhizomes orange brown in colour, long and creeping. Able to grasp onto rocks or tree trunks.
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