Indicative distribution
The areas shown in pink and/purple are the sub-regions where the species or community is known or predicted to occur. They may not occur thoughout the sub-region but may be restricted to certain areas.
(
click here to see geographic restrictions).
The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.
Scientific name: Cheilanthes sieberi subsp. pseudovellea
Profile last updated:
01 Nov 2022
Description
Perennial fern covered with entire brown scales, with a creeping wiry underground stem (rhizome). Fronds crowded, hairy on both sides with twisted white to brown branched hairs but not so dense as to be woolly, divided into lobes, 8-15 cm high, 2-3 cm wide, stalks red-brown and shiny. Reproducing by spores contained within black fruiting bodies (sori) borne on the under surface of the fronds along the margins.
Distribution
One NSW specimen was recorded in 1952 and re-confirmed from Mount Foster North-west of Warren along with more recent records from an adjacent hill. Recent re-examination of specimens suggest a wide former distribution across NSW. Very widely distributed across Australia, e.g. Mount Olga and the Kimberley, MacDonnell and Musgrave Ranges.
Habitat and ecology
- This fern grows in soil pockets in rocky areas of arid mountain ranges. Specific habitats include shaded rock crevices, under rock ledges and between boulders in damp, shallow soils.
- Spores of this taxon germinated 12 days after sowing and grew into small, 1-2 mm wide gametophytes that bore no antheridia or archegonia. A small swelling developed on the underside of the prothallus about 8 weeks after sowing and developed into the first leaf of the young sporophyte.
- In other states the fern is usually common where it grows. Around Mt. Foster it is recorded mostly in small clusters of 2-4 plants but can occur in groups of 10-30 plants.
- In NSW the species is often growing in association with other Cheilanthes species (C. lasiophylla, C. distans) as well as C. sieberi subsp. sieberi, which makes positive identification in the field problematic. It is likely that C. sieberi spp. pseudovellea is more widespread than current records suggest as it may have been misidentified as other taxa in the past.
- Plants usually die off in drought and regeneration occurs after adequate seasonal rainfall.
- A survey of Mt. Foster in 2021 after an above-average rainfall season recorded 18 different clusters totalling 118 plants. The species appeared to have a strong habitat preference for larger rock outcrops in particularly exposed areas with very shallow soil. On these larger outcrops C. sieberi ssp. pseudovellea usually grew with other Cheilanthes species though the other three Cheilanthes taxa also commonly occurred amongst small rocks across the whole mountain and did not appear to require the larger outcrops that C. sieberi ssp. pseudovellea did.
Regional distribution and habitat
Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.
Threats
- Goat grazing and trampling.
- Habitat degradation (vegetation clearing, thinning and the removal of protective boulders).
- Trampling and degradation from stock on private land and Travelling Stock Reserves during wet periods.
- Only few sites confirmed with the species presence in NSW.
- Increased drought conditions limiting rain events on which the species depends
- Potential competition for space with other Cheilanthes species
- Degradation of habitat from ephemeral and annual weeds (e.g. sonchus, flat weed)
- Long term conservation of the species not secure on private land
- Lack of knowledge of distribution, abundance and threats
Recovery strategies
A Saving Our Species conservation project is currently being developed for this species and will be available soon. For information on how you can contribute to this species' recovery, see the Activities to assist this species section below.
Activities to assist this species
- No further clearing of potential habitat.
- Protection of sites from goats.
- Protection of sites from grazing.
- Baseline surveys are required to confirm known populations and locate new ones.
Information sources
- Chambers, T.C. and Farrant, P.A. (1991) A re-examination of the genus Cheilanthes (Adiantaceae) in Australia. Telopea 4(3): 509-557
- Chambers, T.C. and Farrant, P.A. (1991) Three Australian species of Cheilanthes: a response to P.S. Green. Kew Bulletin 46(4): 727-728
- Chambers, T.C. and Farrant, P.A. (1998) Adiantaceae. 8. Cheilanthes. Flora of Australia 48: 271-275 (Australian Biological Resources Study/CSIRO Publishing, Canberra)
- Jones, D.L. (1988) New fern species from northern Australia. Austrobaileya 2(5): 469-480
- Porteners, M. and Robertson, G. (2003) Threatened Plants in Western New South Wales: Information Review. (NSW NPWS, Hurstville)
- Quirk, H., Chambers, T.C. and Regan, M. (1983) The Fern Genus Cheilanthes in Australia. Australian Journal of Botany 31(5): 501-553
- Wilson, P.G. (2000) Cheilanthes. Pp 25-6, 557 in Harden, G.J. (ed.) Flora of New South Wales. Volume 1. Revised Edition (New South Wales University Press, Sydney)
|
IBRA Bioregion
|
IBRA Subregion
|
Known or predicted
|
Geographic restrictions region
|
|---|