Hymenophyllum peltatum

Rhizome: The glabrescent (near hairless) rhizome forms a creeping, interlacing thread across various substrates, including larger ferns such as Dicksonia antarctica, rocks and fallen logs. Leaves: Each frond consists of several dark-green pinnae encompassing multiple lamina, with toothed margins and a single vein. Size can vary from 1.5 – 17 cm in length. H. peltatum is distinguished from otherwise similar relatives (such as H. cupressiforme) by the unique ‘apically winged’ foliage, where branching only occurs on the apex side (i.e. toward the main stem), known as acroscopic branching. Sori occur (1-2) on the acroscopic side of the primary pinna. When mature, each sorus is attached by a small, peltate branch, hence the name H. peltatum. The sorus is a funnel-shaped receptacle, housing numerous sporangia, each approximately 1-2mm long and 0.5-1mm wide. The indusium forms a cleft of two-lips, which have entire margins protecting the developing sporangia.

While not as common as H. cupressiforme species, H. peltatum is widespread and known to occur in cool temperate to sub-tropical rainforests around the world, including Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and South America. One of 19 Hymenophyllum species found in Australia, H. peltatum can be observed across Tasmanian alpine regions, Victoria, NSW, and rarely in Queensland. Habitat includes wet, mossy banks, rocks and logs. It also occurs as an epiphyte on trees such as Nothofagus cunninghami and Atherosperma moschatum.