Pyrrosia rupestris

Pyrrosia rupestris known as the rock felt fern is a common fern of eastern Australia. Occurring as an epiphyte or lithophyte in areas of part shade and high moisture. Usually found in rainforest or moist eucalyptus forest. Often seen on rainforest trees, quite high above the ground. However, it grows as far west at the more arid Warrumbungle National Park. In drought it shrinks and becomes desiccated. With rain or mist the fern recovers well.

Rock felt fern
Rock felt fern at Chatswood West growing on Hawkesbury sandstone
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Division:	Polypodiophyta
Class:	Polypodiopsida
Order:	Polypodiales
Suborder:	Polypodiineae
Family:	Polypodiaceae
Genus:	Pyrrosia
Species:	P. rupestris
Binomial name
Pyrrosia rupestris (R.Br.) Ching

Eight sori on the long mature leaves

The name Pyrrosia is from the Greek which refers to the flame colour of the hairs that cover the fronds on some species. Rupestris means growing near rocks. Rock felt fern grows from Victoria north through New South Wales and Queensland to New Guinea.

Description

Leaves are round or tongue like in shape. 2 cm round, or up to 10 cm long and 1.5 cm broad. Sterile leaves round, fertile leaves long and tongue shaped. Round dark sori (spores) seen under the long leaves. Rhizomes orange brown in colour, long and creeping. Able to grasp onto rocks or tree trunks.

Rock felt fern on Hawkesbury Sandstone, Chatswood West, Australia. Tiny birds nest ferns also growing on the rock

References

• "Pyrrosia rupestris". PlantNET - NSW Flora Online. Retrieved 2010-01-16.
• http://www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/Directory/S2_Item.asp?Mkey=1002&S3Key=42
• https://web.archive.org/web/20091005150644/http://www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/welcome_to_bgt/mount_tomah_botanic_garden/the_garden/blooming_calendar/Pyrrosia_rupestris