Asplenium normale

Aspleniaceae

Asplenium normale D.Don

Link to Australian Plant Name Index for publication details and synonyms: https://id.biodiversity.org.au/name/apni/105695

Lithophytic ferns. Rhizome erect, scaly. Stipe and rachis shiny, dark brown throughout, ±glabrous; stipe 3–12 cm long, c. 0.5 mm diam. Lamina very narrowly elliptic to ±linear, pinnate, 8–12 cm long, 1.7–2.3 cm wide, thin, ±glabrous. Pinnae in 15–25 pairs, ±oblong; bases unequally cuneate, lobed acroscopically and excised basiscopically, shortly stalked; apices obtuse; acroscopic and apical margins coarsely crenate-serrate; basiscopic margins entire; longest pinnae near middle, 8–12 mm long, 5–7 mm wide, decreasing gradually upwards to a short acuminate pinnatifid apex; lowest pinnae deflexed. Sori to 2 mm long. Perispores dark, reticulate, fenestrate with occasional ridges; exospores 34.6–34.8 × 22.7–23.4 µm (means). 

Atherton Tablelands and Eungella region in NE QLD. Also scattered across the Palaeotropics.

Terrestrial or litophytic on steep rocks or banks in high rainfall high altitude tropical vine forest.

The Australian population does not appear to reproduce from bulbils as is found in populations from overseas.