Hymenophyllum flabellatum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hymenophyllum flabellatum |
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| Hymenophyllum flabellatum | |
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Hymenophyllum
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| Species: |
flabellatum
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The Hymenophyllum flabellatum, also known as the shiny filmy-fern, is a type of fern that belongs to the Hymenophyllaceae family. This delicate fern often grows on other plants or rocks, which is called being epiphytic. It can be anywhere from 5 to 25 centimeters long. What makes it special are its very thin leaves, which are only one cell thick! This fern family is found all over the world. You can find the shiny filmy-fern a lot in rainforests in Tasmania and southeastern Australia (Victoria and New South Wales). There are also smaller groups of them in northern Queensland and New Zealand.
The name Hymenophyllum comes from two Greek words: hymen, meaning "membrane," and phyllon, meaning "leaf." This describes its thin, leaf-like fronds. The word flabellatum comes from Latin, meaning "fan-shaped," which describes how some of its parts look.
What Does the Shiny Filmy-Fern Look Like?
The shiny filmy-fern is easy to spot because of its very thin, one-cell-thick fronds. These fronds are like delicate leaves and grow best in wet places. They are usually pale yellow-green and have yellow-brown hairs on them. Each frond can be 5 to 25 centimeters long. They are long and narrow with smooth edges. Small, round structures called sori (SOH-rye) grow at the tips of the side branches. These sori are covered by a two-lipped membrane called an indusium (in-DOO-zee-um). The fronds often hang down.
This fern does not have stomata, which are tiny pores usually found on leaves for breathing. The main part of the frond, called the lamina (LAM-in-uh), is yellow-green and can be shaped like an oval or a long, narrow strip. Some parts of the fronds might have long, tail-like tips. The stem, called the stipe (stype), is thin and has a bunch of hairs at its base. The main stem of the frond, called the rachis (RAY-kis), also has scattered hairs.
Where Does This Fern Live?
The shiny filmy-fern loves rainforests. It often forms thick mats on rocks and tree trunks. You might even see it hanging like curtains inside well-lit caves! It is very common in Tasmanian rainforests and on Flinders Island. You can also find it in New South Wales, Victoria, and some parts of northern Queensland in Australia. It is also found a lot in New Zealand.
Rainforests usually grow near coastal areas because they need a lot of rain. Because of this, the shiny filmy-fern usually doesn't grow far inland in Tasmania or mainland Australia. It needs that constant moisture to thrive.
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How is This Fern Related to Others?
The Hymenophyllaceae family, also known as the filmy fern family, is a large and successful group of Pteridophytes. Pteridophytes are plants like ferns and their close relatives. There are many species in this family, with about 670 to 700 different types named. However, scientists are still debating the exact number, with 131 names currently accepted.
Scientists believe this family is very old in terms of evolution. It is divided into two main groups, or genera: Hymenophyllum and Trichomanes. These groups are separated based on how their reproductive parts, called gametophytes, and their spore-producing structures, called sori, are built. The shape of the indusium (the cover over the sorus) and the receptacle (the part that holds the spores) are especially important for telling them apart.
Members of the Hymenophyllum group are all small, thin, and delicate. They often grow on other plants (epiphytic) or on rocks. They form dense mats on the ground in rainforests. Most ferns in this family need very moist conditions, which is why they are found in tropical or rainforest areas. However, a few types can handle drier times. They might curl up when it's dry and then "wake up" or revive when moisture returns.
