Pleurosorus subglandulosus (Fern taxa)
This species is not threatened or rare in Western Australia.
There are no recorded threats to this species.
It is a lithophytic fern (grows on/in rocks) with the whole leaf (fronds) almost standing upright. The rhizome (stem; where the frond and roots are attached to) is standing upright and covered in scales. The stipe, rachis and lamina are covered in tiny hairs that are colourless or pale brown 0.1-1mm in length. The stipe can range from 0.5cm to 7cm in length and is 0.5mm in diameter. The lamina is divided once into the pinna and is narrowly elliptic in shape, 0.5-15cm long, 0.6-4.5cm wide. The primary pinnae, rising from the stipe, are in pairs of 3-10, ovate in shape and have short stalks joining to the rachis. The longest pinnae (primary) are near the middle, giving the narrowly elliptic shape of the lamina. The secondary pinnae are closest to the top of the fern and can range up to 10mm long and 9mm wide in the largest specimens recorded. The sori are elongated along the veins of the pinnae (leaflet) and are 5mm long.
This species is homosporus and lacks indusia. The spores also lack chlorophyll (Florabase, 2013).
There is little known of the evolution of this species.
There is little known of the phylogeny of this species.
This species lives on rocks and have been found in rocky environments in four main areas in Western Australia; Avon Wheatbelt, Central Ranges, Jarrah Forest and Swan Coastal Plain (Florabase of Western Australia, 2013). Only 11.8% of the specimens were collected in Western Australia. The species thrives in New South Wales, with 37.5% of specimens collected in this state. Only 2.8% were collected in Queensland (Australia’s Virtual Hervarium).
This species is lithophytic, which means they live on/in rocks, therefore they are found in rocky habitats; i.e. amongst boulders and under rock overhangs.
There is no information on any special uses this species may have.
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