Plants of
South Australia
Hypolepis rugosula
Dennstaedtiaceae
Ruddy Ground-fern
Display all 12 images
Regional Species Conservation Assessments per IBRA subregion.
Least concern
Near threatened
Rare
Vulnerable
Endangered
Critically endangered
Extinct
Data deficient
Adelaide
Arkaroola
Ceduna
Coober Pedy
Hawker
Innamincka
Marla
Marree
Mount Gambier
Oodnadatta
Renmark
Wudinna
Keith
Yunta
Enlarge Map
Copy Map
Copy Map
Display IBRA region text

Botanical art

Kath Alcock painting: 1

Prior names

Polypodium rugosulum

Etymology

Hypolepis, from the Greek 'hypo' meaning below and 'lepis' meaning a scale; alluding to the scale-like indusium. Rugosula means wrinkled, referring to the fronds.

Distribution and status

Found on Kangaroo Island, southern Mount Lofty Ranges and the lower South-east in South Australia growing along shady streams or open wetter areas. Also found in Queensland, New South Wales and Tasmania. Introduced to Western Australia. Native. Uncommon in South Australia. Uncommon in Queensland. Common in the other States.
Herbarium regions: Southern Lofty, Kangaroo Island, South Eastern, Green Adelaide
NRM regions: Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges, Kangaroo Island, South East
AVH map: SA distribution map (external link)

Plant description

Fern with long-creeping rhizome to 5 mm thick, densely covered by shiny, chestnut-brown hairs. Fronds to 1 m long, erect or flaccid; stipe to 5 mm thick near the base, lamina tri-pinnate, firm, deep-green; hairs brown. Fruits are brown sori near the sinus of a lobe or tooth, unprotected or partially protected by reflexed marginal flap which is fringed with a few hairs. Seeds are very fine golden-brown spores.

Seed collection and propagation

Collect fronds containing sori. Shake fronds to dislodge the spores onto a clean piece of paper. Store spores in liquid nitrogen.