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Scientific Name
Sticherus tener
Family Name
GLEICHENIACEAE
Common Name
Silky fan-fern
Status
Height
fronds 2.0m (200cm)
Flowers
None
Fruit
Spores
Form
Fern; rhizome creeping; fronds erect or straggling; pinnules set at 45-600 to rhachis, pinnule margins entire.
Municipalities
Break O'Day; Burnie; Central Coast; Central Highlands; Circular Head; Derwent Valley; Devonport; Dorset; Flinders Island; Glamorgan-Spring Bay; Huon Valley; Kentish; King Island; Kingborough; Latrobe; Meander Valley; Northern Midlands; Tasman; Waratah-Wynyard; West Coast; West Tamar
Communities
Coastal Vegetation; Dry Eucalypt Forest and Woodland; Riparian; Rainforest and wet eucalypt forest
Habitat Notes
Very common and widespread in Tasmania in permanently wet soils within rainforest,wet sclerophyll forest, watercourse margins and drainage lines; also along sheltered streams in dry sclerophyll forest and coastal scrub.Will tolerate boggy soils
Site Tolerance
Moist; Shady; Waterlogged
Frost Tolerance
Soil Tolerance
Clay; Fertile; Loam; Poor; Poorly-drained; Sandy; Well-drained
General Notes
Fronds, or portions of fronds, containing ripe spores can be placed in a paper bag which is left upright in a dry and draught-free place. Spores should begin to release immediately and all spores are released within days unless the species has tough, leathery fronds. Spores settle at the bottom of the bag. After sowing specks of green appear within 2-4 weeks. These are the young prothalli and during the next 6-12 months they are at risk from overcrowding and pathogens. When the first fronds appear the sporelings can be slowly hardened by gradual removal of the container cover. Great care must be taken to avoid dryiing out. Resents disturbance. Suitable below powerlines.
Propagation Details
Propagation Calendar
Flowering Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Seed Collecting Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Sowing Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Cutting Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Seed Information
Seed Collection
Sori in single row on either side of midvein. spores are collected when mature on the frond. unripe sori are generally light green then change to yellowish brown and to dark brown or black when mature
Seed Treatment Method
Standard
Seed Storage Life
Viable Seeds Per Gram
Seed Treatment Notes
Sow spores into a pot in a water retaining medium with good drainage. Sterilise medium & containerwith boiling water and sow spores bysprinkling a small amount onto the surface of the medium. Cover immediately with clean glass or plastic wrap and leave in a warm area in strong light but not direct sunlight.
Germination Time
Suitable for Direct Seeding
Cuttings
Expected Time to Take Root
Expected Time to Plant Out
Propagation by Division
N.B. Transplant only from nearby to avoid disease.
Cutting Notes
Copyright 2000-2009, Understorey Network Incorporated. Updated 2024-12-11
Database development and website design by
Andrew Smith