Flora of Tasmania

Naomi Lawrence
Description
As its name implies, scrambling coralfern has an untidy scrambling habit. It has a
long creeping rhizome with forked branches, which is covered when young with
brown, fringed scales.
The long, brown lower frond stems (stipes), which arise at intervals along the
rhizome, are usually without scales, bristles or hairs when mature. The fronds are
erect or scrambling, open and much branched, usually with several tiers of branch
systems so the plants are often more than 1.5 m tall. Like other members of this very
distinctive genus, scrambling coralfern has forked fronds.
The primary upper frond stem (rachis) branches fork two or three times. The upper
frond stems are covered with numerous, conspicuous bundles of short, shiny, amber to
dark brown bristles, together with less numerous and scattered, fringed scales. The
young parts and dormant apices of the fronds are protected by shiny, brown, fringed
scales and star-shaped hairs.
The leafy part of the frond is twice divided. The primary divisions (pinnae) are
26 cm long and lobed. Each pinna is further divided into small, close-set pinnules,
which (along with the rachis) lack hairs or scales on the under surface. The pinnules
are stalkless, small (13 mm long), oblong-triangular and blunt, with the lower
surface flat or slightly concave.
The spore clusters (sori) contain 25 spore sacs (sporangia) grouped around a central
projection. Each spore sac (sporangium) is large, almost globular, shiny and bright
yellow to yellow-brown in colour, splitting vertically when the spore is mature.
Confusing species
Pouched coralfern (Gleichenia dicarpa) and alpine coralfern (Gleichenia alpina) are
very similar in appearance to scrambling coralfern. However, scrambling coralfern
has flat pinnules and bare pinnae and rachis, whereas alpine coralfern and pouched
coralfern have pouched pinnules.
Gleichenia microphylla
FAMILY: Gleicheniaceae
BOTANICAL NAME: Gleichenia microphylla
COMMON NAME: scrambling coralfern
CONSERVATION SIGNIFICANCE:
None recorded
Gleichenia microphylla
Flora of Tasmania
Distribution and Habitat
Distribution of Gleichenia microphylla in Tasmania 2004 data.
In Australia, scrambling coralfern is common and widespread, occurring in Victoria,
Tasmania, South Australia, New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia.
It has similar habitat requirements to pouched coralfern and the two species have
virtually the same distribution and frequently grow together. Like pouched coralfern,
scrambling coralfern occurs in poorly-drained and permanently wet soils within
heathlands, riparian areas, dry eucalypt forest and woodland. It is often locally
abundant along watercourse margins and other swampy areas where there is adequate
light.
Ecology
Scrambling coralfern has similar light and habitat requirements to pouched coralfern,
both requiring constant moisture around their roots and sun on their fronds. Under
such conditions, scrambling coralfern forms thickets that can be over 3 m tall, by
scrambling up and being supported by nearby vegetation. Where moisture is adequate,
dwarfed plants can also be found on exposed banks among rocks.
Scrambling coralfern is very hardy and can tolerate salt-laden winds in coastal
situations.
Potential for Cultivation
Scrambling coralfern has good potential for cultivation and it can be readily raised
from ripe spores. Ripe spore is indicated by the colour of the spore clusters, which are
dark brown or black when mature. It is, however, particularly difficult to transplant
mature plants, although very small plants transplant easily. In either case, this species
will not tolerate drying out of the root system and is intolerant of lime and fertilisers.
If treated appropriately, scrambling coralfern adapts well to pot or tub culture and is
an attractive species in cultivation.
Gleichenia microphylla
Flora of Tasmania
Information Sources
Garrett, M. (1996) The Ferns of Tasmania. Their Ecology and Distribution.
Tasmanian Forest Research Council, Hobart.
Duncan, B.D. & Isaac, G. (1986) Ferns and Allied Plants of Victoria, Tasmania and
South Australia. Melbourne University Press, Carlton, Victoria.
J ones, D.L. & Clemesha, S.C. (1976) Australian Ferns and Fern Allies with Notes on
Their Cultivation. Reed, Sydney, London.
Understorey Network. Tasmanian Native Species Database. www.understorey-
network.org.au