Gleichenia microphylla facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gleichenia microphylla |
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| G. microphylla at Elvina Bay, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, Australia | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Gleichenia
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| Species: |
microphylla
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| Synonyms | |
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Platyzoma microphyllum R.Br. |
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Gleichenia microphylla is a small fern that grows in Australia and New Zealand.
It has many common names, including scrambling coral fern, umbrella fern, parasol fern, and carrier tangle. In New Zealand, it's also known by Māori names like matua-rarauhe and waewae kotuku.
This fern is a common plant. You can often see it growing under waterfalls, in swamps, under cliffs, and in tall open forests. It likes places with high humidity, good sunshine, and plenty of moisture. It can grow in large groups, forming big colonies.
The famous botanist Robert Brown first described this fern in 1810. His description appeared in a book called Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae.
Contents
Discovering the Fern's Features
The main stems, called rachises, of Gleichenia microphylla have many shiny, short, dark brown bristles. They also have some scattered, fringed scales. The smaller branches are 2 to 6 centimeters long. They have tiny leaflets, called pinnules, that are very close together.
The underside of these small branches does not have hairs or scales. The young, unrolling tips and new rachises are covered in reddish-brown bristles and some fringed scales. The pinnules are tiny, only 1 to 3 millimeters long, and have a blunt, triangular shape. Their undersides are flat or slightly curved.
On the underside of a fertile frond (a fern leaf), you can find 2 to 4 small clusters called sori. These sori contain sporangia, which are like tiny cases that hold the fern's spores. The sporangia are shiny and bright yellow to yellow-brown. The fronds of this fern are forked many times and can grow to be 2 to 4 meters long.
Where the Fern Grows: Distribution and Habitat
Gleichenia microphylla forms large, scrambling groups in sunny, damp places. You can find it around swamps, on open banks, and along the edges of creeks. Sometimes, you might see smaller plants growing in wet cracks in rocks. This fern grows from sea level up to 600 meters high. On Stewart Island in New Zealand, it can be found as high as 760 meters.
Across Australia and New Zealand
This fern is very common in both Australia and New Zealand.
In Australia, it is widespread in Victoria and Tasmania. This includes Flinders Island and King Island. It also grows in New South Wales, Queensland, the Northern Territory, South Australia, and the Australian Capital Territory. However, it has not been found in Western Australia.
In New Zealand, you can find G. microphylla on both the North Island and South Island, as well as on Stewart Island. It is often not found on the eastern sides of these islands. On the North Island, it grows in Northland, Auckland, the Volcanic plateau, Taranaki, and the Southern North Island. On the South Island, it can be seen in Western Nelson, Sounds-Nelson, Marlborough, Westland, Fiordland, and Southland.
Other Places It Might Grow
Some reports suggest that G. microphylla is also found in Southeast Asia, Malesia, and New Caledonia. However, these records are not fully confirmed by recent studies. It is thought that some older records might have mistakenly identified Australian plants as growing in New Caledonia. More research is needed to confirm if the fern truly grows in these other areas.
Hybrid Ferns
Gleichenia microphylla can sometimes mix with another fern called G. dicarpa. When these two ferns cross, they create a new type of fern called a hybrid. These hybrids are named G. xpunctulata. They look like a mix between both parent species. You can find these hybrid ferns in areas where both G. microphylla and G. dicarpa grow together.
Images for kids
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Gleichenia microphylla at Mornington Peninsula, Australia
