Gleinchenia microphylla R. Br., 1810

Common name(s): Scrambling Coral Fern, Umbrella Fern, Parasol Fern, Carrier Tangle

Family: Gleicheniaceae Synonym(s): Platyzoma microphyllum R.Br., Pteris platyzomopsis Christenh. & H.Schneid., Gleinchenia semivestita Labill.

Fern

Taken by Ken Harrington on 19th September, 2012 at Grampians, Victoria

Frond

Taken by Ken Harrington

Frond (Front)

Taken by Ken Harrington

Crozier (New Frond)

Taken by Ken Harrington

Expand all

Fern / Fern Ally Properties

Origin(s)

Australia

NSW: NC, CT, CC, ST, SC
QLD: WB, MO
SA: SL, KI, SE
TAS: NW, ML, NE, WC, EC, SW, KI, FU
VIC: WA, GR, VP, OR, EH, GP, GH, PR, EG

New Zealand

Sth. Is.: NE, BU, WE, FI, SI
Nth. Is.: TKI, NO, AU, WA, TA, MA

Plant Type

Terrestrial Fern

Climate Range(s) - Habitat

Temperate Cool, Temperate Warm, Tropical-Sub

Temperate Cool,

Temperate Warm,

Tropical-Sub

Climate Range(s) - Tolerance

Oceanic, Temperate Cool, Temperate Warm, Tropical-Sub, Tropical

Oceanic,

Temperate Cool,

Temperate Warm,

Tropical-Sub,

Tropical

Aspect Range(s)

Shade - Dappled, Shade - Light, Shade - Medium

Shade - Dappled,

Shade - Light,

Shade - Medium

Habitat Range(s)

Peat Bogs, Rainforest - Temperate, Rivers / Creeks / Streams, Sclerophyll Forest - Wet, Sedgelands

Peat Bogs,

Rainforest - Temperate,

Rivers / Creeks / Streams,

Sclerophyll Forest - Wet,

Sedgelands

Habitat Zone(s)

Cliffs, Gullies, Heavy soils, Hill Sides, Hills, Lakes / Dams / Swamps, Moist areas, Moist Valley Slopes, Riparian Areas, Rock crevices, Sandy Moist, Scattered, Slopes, Understory, Water sides, Well drained, Wet Pockets, Wind Protected

Cliffs,

Gullies,

Heavy soils,

Hill Sides,

Hills,

Lakes / Dams / Swamps,

Moist areas,

Moist Valley Slopes,

Riparian Areas,

Rock crevices,

Sandy Moist,

Scattered,

Slopes,

Understory,

Water sides,

Well drained,

Wet Pockets,

Wind Protected

Mature Height

500-750mm, 750mm-1m, 1-2m, 2-3m, 3-4m

500-750mm,

750mm-1m,

1-2m,

2-3m,

3-4m

Mature Width

2-3m

Plant Shape

Broad Bun

Growth Rate

Moderate

Maturity

2-4 yrs.

Life Span

15-30yrs

Frond Properties

Frond Colour(s) (upper)

Green Dark, Green Light

Green Dark,

Green Light

Frond Colour(s) (lower)

Green, Green Light

Green,

Green Light

Frond Texture (upper)

Glabrous

Leathery

Frond Texture (lower)

Leathery

Frond Aroma

None

Frond Length

2-2.5m, 2.5-3m, 3-4m

2-2.5m,

2.5-3m,

3-4m

Frond Shape(s)

Bipinnate

Frond Position

Procumbent

Frond Arrangement

Alternate

Pinna Shape(s)

Parapinnate

Pinna Arrangement

Opposite

Pinna Length (Frondlet)

20-25mm, 25-30mm, 30-40mm, 40-50mm, 50-60mm, 60-70mm, 70-80mm, 80-90mm, 90-100mm

20-25mm,

25-30mm,

30-40mm,

40-50mm,

50-60mm,

60-70mm,

70-80mm,

80-90mm,

90-100mm

Pinnae Pairs / Frond

18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

18,

19,

20,

21,

22,

23,

24,

25,

26,

27,

28,

29,

30,

31,

32,

33,

34,

35,

36,

37,

38,

39,

Pinnule Shape (Leaflet)

Oval

Deltoid

Oval,

Deltoid

Pinnule Apice(s) (Leaflet)

Obtuse

Pinnule Margin(s) (Leaflet)

Entire

Pinnule Arrangement

Opposite

Pinnule Length

1-2mm, 2-3mm

1-2mm,

2-3mm

Pinnule Width

1-2mm

Pinnule Cross Section(s) (Leaflet)

Flat

Recurved

Flat,

Recurved

Rachis / Stem / Scale Properties

Rachis / Stem / Stipe Upper Colour(s)

Brown Dark, Brown Light, Glossy

Brown Dark,

Brown Light,

Glossy

Rachis / Stem / Stipe Base Colour(s)

Brown Dark, Brown Light, Glossy

Brown Dark,

Brown Light,

Glossy

Rachis / Stem / Stipe Upper Texture(s)

Stellate , Scaly , Wiry

Stellate,

Scaly,

Wiry

Rachis / Stem / Stipe Base Texture(s)

Scaly

Stellate , Wiry

Stellate,

Wiry

Rachis / Stipe Length

100-125mm, 125-150mm, 150-175mm, 175-200mm, 200-225mm, 225-250mm, 250-275mm, 275-300mm, 300-325mm, 325-350mm, 350-375mm, 375-400mm, 400-425mm, 425-450mm, 450-475mm, 475-500mm, 500-525mm, 525-550mm

100-125mm,

125-150mm,

150-175mm,

175-200mm,

200-225mm,

225-250mm,

250-275mm,

275-300mm,

300-325mm,

325-350mm,

350-375mm,

375-400mm,

400-425mm,

425-450mm,

450-475mm,

475-500mm,

500-525mm,

525-550mm

Scale Colour(s)

Brown Dark

Scale Shape(s)

Lanceolate-Narrow

Scale Texture(s)

Fluffy

Stipe / Rachis Feature(s)

Hairs-Short

Stipe / Rachis Cross Section

Terete

Indusia (Fruiting Body) Properties

Indusia Colour(s)

Yellow-brown, Yellow

Yellow-brown,

Yellow

Indusia Shape (Fruit)

Peltate

Spore Properties

Spore Size

25-50um

Spore Number

Many

Spore Dispersal

Wind

Root Properties

Root Type(s)

Rhizome Long-creeping

Root/Rhizome Texture(s)

Scale - Ovate , Scale - Stellate , Scale - Lanceolate Broad , Wiry

Scale - Ovate,

Scale - Stellate,

Scale - Lanceolate Broad,

Wiry

Root/Rhizome Diameter

1-2mm, 2-3mm

1-2mm,

2-3mm

Root Colour(s)

Black, Brown Dark

Black,

Brown Dark

Invasiveness

None

Soil Properties

Soil Type(s)

Clay-loam, Loam, Sandy-loam, Peaty, Organic Matter, Hummus Rich, Premium Potting Mix

Clay-loam,

Loam,

Sandy-loam,

Peaty,

Organic Matter,

Hummus Rich,

Premium Potting Mix

Soil pH Range(s)

Acid, Slightly Acid, Neutral

Acid,

Slightly Acid,

Neutral

Soil Condition(s)

Damp

Fertile , Shallow , Deep , Well Drained

Fertile,

Shallow,

Deep,

Well Drained

Soil Salinities

None

Waterlogging Class

W0 – Low tolerance

Watering Requirements

WR1 - keep soil wet at all times, WR2 - keep soil moist but never soggy, WR3 - never let soil dry out

WR1 - keep soil wet at all times,

WR2 - keep soil moist but never soggy,

WR3 - never let soil dry out

Other Properties / Uses

Bee Attraction

None

Bird Attraction(s)

Nesting, Habitat

Nesting,

Habitat

Butterfly Attraction

None

Frog Habitat

Good

Coastal

2nd Line

Edible(s)

None

Fire Regeneration(s)

Rhizome

Fire Retarding

Moderate

Drought Tolerance

Poor

Frost Tolerance

Poor

Snow Tolerance

None

Smog Tolerant

Poor

Landscape Use

Moderate

Street Use

None

Commercial Use(s)

Horticulture - Amenity

Special Purpose(s)

Tolerant-Rabbits/Hares, Tolerant-Kangaroo's, Tolerant-Deer, Garden-Shade, Garden-Rock, Garden-Woodland, Foliage-interesting, Garden-Australian Native, Garden-Fern, Garden-Foliage, Garden-Informal, Shade Tolerant, Shady Moist, Sunny Moist, Temporary Inundation

Tolerant-Rabbits/Hares,

Tolerant-Kangaroo's,

Tolerant-Deer,

Garden-Shade,

Garden-Rock,

Garden-Woodland,

Foliage-interesting,

Garden-Australian Native,

Garden-Fern,

Garden-Foliage,

Garden-Informal,

Shade Tolerant,

Shady Moist,

Sunny Moist,

Temporary Inundation

Dormancy

Summer

Minimum Temperature Tolerance

2 - 4°C

Humidity Requirements

Medium, High

Medium,

High

Vulnerability

LC - Least Concern

Altitude Range - Habitat

0-100m, 100-200m, 200-300m, 300-400m, 400-500m, 500-600m, 600-700m, 700-800m

0-100m,

100-200m,

200-300m,

300-400m,

400-500m,

500-600m,

600-700m,

700-800m

Annual Precipitation Range

650mm, 700mm, 750mm, 800mm, 850mm, 900mm, 950mm, 1,000mm, 1,100mm, 1,200mm, 1,300mm, 1,400mm, 1,5oomm

650mm,

700mm,

750mm,

800mm,

850mm,

900mm,

950mm,

1,000mm,

1,100mm,

1,200mm,

1,300mm,

1,400mm,

1,5oomm

Fertilising Requirements

FR3, FR5

FR3,

FR5

Wind Tolerance

Light Winds

Propagation

Fresh Spore

General Notes

A scrambling fern with fronds that are branched mant times, making an attractive mound, in cool, damp, sunny to shaded positions. Usually around swamps or along creek margins

Propagation Notes

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Fresh Spore

Material Preparation

Collect fronds with shiny, bright yellow to yellow-brown sporangia, place in a paper bag to prevent spores from falling out. Leave to dry for 1-2 weeks. The spores will fall out or give a gentle shake to get it fall out. Use a very fine sieve to seperate the frass. Store in a cool, dark place.

Viability:-

Propagating Mix

Cocopeat sterilised with boiling water

Treatment

Sow spores as soon after collection as possible for best results. Once the sterilized medium has cooled, place in a pot, spread the spores over the medium. Cover the top of the pot immediately with clear plastic or glass. Stand the pot in a shallow dish of water. Place on 21° heated bed. Maintain a hothouse temperature around 21 - 25° at plant level, where possible. Remove cover 1 -2 weeks after first fronds appear. Allow to harden off before repotting.

Germination time:- 4 – 8 weeks prothalli appear, a green scum on surface.

Pricking out:- 6 – 12 months into tubes at second frond stage

Tube Mix:- Premium Fern Mix

Rhizomes

Division

Winter

Material Preparation

For field collected stock, choose small to medium clumps. Dig up and remove the top half of the foliage on site. Wash all soil from the roots. Carefully prize apart the root system for each section of the clump, ensure each section of rhizome has roots attached. Remove damaged roots. Reduce the number of stems per section by 50%. Drop all sections into a mild solution of Phosacid bath to kill any Phytopthera etc, from the field collection. Drain. Keep moist during preparation.

For nursery stock, remove from the pot. Wash all soil from the roots. Carefully prize apart the root system for each clump, ensure each section has roots attached. Remove damaged roots. Reduce the number of stems per section by 50%. Keep moist during preparation.

Propagating Mix

Premium Fern Potting Mix

Treatment

Keep hydrated during prep. Pot up as soon as possible. Water in with dilute 30ml Seasol and 10ml Plant Starter solution to 5 lt. water. Place outside in a shady position.

Strike Rate:- Field Stock 50 – 75%

Nursery Stock 95%

Rooting time:- Field Stock 6 - 8 weeks

Nursery Stock 4 - 6 weeks

Division Yield per 140mm Pot:- 2 – 3 plants