Microsorum link (Hort. Berol) is a genus of fern belonging to the family Polypodiaceae; there are 50 species belonging to the genus Microsorum, with eight species found across Australia and one species (Microsorum grossum) that grows natively to Western Australia. Ferns within this genus are often terrestrial, and can be found growing on other plants and trees or on the surface of rocky outcrops; these ferns grow best in humid, moist conditions and are common to tropical and subtropical areas.
Microsorum grossum, a species native to Western Australia, is classified as a priority one conservation code according to ALA website. Priority one conservation codes are assigned to taxa that have small, poorly surveyed populations and are considered threatened.
Refer to http://bie.ala.org.au/species/urn:lsid:biodiversity.org.au:apni.taxon:332733#tab_other
Threats to the species Microsorum grossum include industrial process, such as mining and agricultural expansion, competition with introduced weeds and predation from introduced animals.
Microsorum is commonly found growing on other plants or on the surface of rocks and rocky soils. Although they grow on other plants, they are not parasitic. Most species grow on land, however, some are strictly aquatic and can be found in marshes and other water bodies. The stem, or rhizome, can be either long or short and grows along the surface of the ground. Small nodes, called scales, form on the stem. Scales near the centre of the stem have thick cell margins, which gives them a glassy appearance (Bostock & Stokes, 1998).
The fronds of this genus have a short stipe or stem and a blade (lamina) that can form a single, whole structure or have divisions that are either lobed or divided once. Small, secondary veins, called veinlets, develop throughout the blade and connect to modified pores (hydathode) that expel water. Clusters of sporangia, or sori, are located on or within the epidermis of the blade and can be either round or elongated. The sori can form in organized rows or appear scattered across the blade. Spores produced by these ferns vary from smooth surface to a bumpy surface (Bostock & Stokes, 1998).
Bostock, P. D., & Spokes, T. M. (1998). Microsorum in Flora of Australia vol 48. Canberra: Australia Biological Resource study
A link to the genus page within flora of Australia:
http://www.anbg.gov.au/abrs/online-resources/flora/stddisplay.xsql?pnid=...
The name Microsorum, derived from the Greek words mikros (micro, small) and soros (sorus), describes the uniquely small sori that is evident on certain species belonging to the genus (Bostock & Spokes, 1998).
Reconstructions of phylogenetic characterizations have revealed that Microsorum forms part of a polyphyletic clade; this evidence has suggested a revision and redefinition of the group to exclude those belonging to polygrammoid families (Schneider, Smith, Cranfill, Hildebrand, Haufler & Ranker, 2004).
Kingdom – Plantae
Phylum – Pteridophyta
Class – Polypodiopsida
Order – Polypodiales
Family – Polypodiaceae
Genus – Microsorum
The distribution of Microsorum ranges from Africa to Polynesia, with highest richness in tropical Asia; eight species are found across Australia in climates with humid conditions.
Species belonging to the genus Microsorum are mostly terrestrial ferns that thrive in tropical to subtropical conditions; they can either be found growing on other plants or on the surface of rocky outcrops. Aquatic species of this genus are common to marshes and other bodies of water.
A link to the genus page within the Australian National Botanic Gardens website:
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