Braid Fern - profile

Indicative distribution

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Key:

known

predicted

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: Platyzoma microphyllum

Conservation status in NSW: Endangered

Commonwealth status: Not listed

Profile last updated: 11 Oct 2022

Description

Clumped fern covered with copper-coloured hairs. Fronds crowded, both simple in shape and divided, simple fronds linear, green, 3-7 cm long, inconspicuous and often easily overlooked, the divided or pinnate fronds with numerous pouch-like segments on each side of the stem, usually 20-35 cm long. Reproducing by spores contained within black fruiting bodies (sori) borne on the under surface of the fronds along the veins.

Distribution

Recorded in NSW only in the Yetman district. The species is widespread across northern Australia, from WA to the NT, eastern Qld and just into central-northern NSW.

Habitat and ecology

Grows in sandy or swampy soils, or in clay soils adjacent to streams and lagoons and subject to periodic flooding.
Recorded in NSW at Bruxner Highway growing as one localised patch in deep sandy soil, with Leptospermum species, Brachyloma daphnoides and Lomandra species.
The fern was growing at Bebo State Forest in Angophora and Callitris woodland in sandy soil, and a very open sunny position also in sandy soil.
Other associated species include Hakea dactyloides, Brachyloma daphnoides, Jacksonia scoparia, Xylomelum cunninghamii and Calytrix tetragona.
Grows in Qld in deep sandy soils over clay where there is periodic marked increase in the level of the water table, or sometimes in clay beside streams or lagoons where the ground is subject to periodic, prolonged inundation by water.
Fertile plants of Platyzoma microphyllum have been recorded throughout most of the year.
Populations can form tussocks or colonies up to several metres across; in NSW the fern forms very localised and clumped populations.

Regional distribution and habitat

Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.

Threats

Habitat depletion and degradation (the sandy and damp habitats susceptible to physical disturbances).
Grazing, trampling and pugging of the soil.
Availability of moist habitats (depressions and swamps are often temporary and ephemeral).

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

Maintain natural drainage near areas of habitat.
Protect existing populations from stock and feral animals.
Seasonal monitoring of populations.
No further loss of extant populations.
Report any additional records to the DEC.
Survey for species in potential habitat to identify any additional populations.

Information sources

Andrews, S.B. (1990) Ferns of Queensland. Queensland Department of Primary Industries, Brisbane.
Bentham, G. (1863) Tribe Osmundeae p.p., Flora Australiensis. Volume 7 (1878) Reeve, London.
Briggs, J.D. and Leigh, J.H. (1996) Rare or Threatened Australian Plants. Revised Edition. (CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne)
Brown, R. (1810) Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van-Diemen (Taylor: London),
Chinnock, R.J. (1998) Platyzomataceae. Platyzoma. Flora of Australia 48: 162-164, p. 164.
Clifford, H.T. and Constantine, J. (1980) Ferns, Fern Allies and Conifers Australia. A Laboratory Manual (University of Queensland Press: St Lucia), pp. 95-96.
Holttum, R.E. (1956) On the nature and possible relationships of the fern genus Platyzoma R. Br. Kew Bulletin: 551-553.
NSW Herbarium Records. () Databased specimen records from the National Herbarium of New South Wales (Royal Botanic Gardens: Sydney).
Pressey, R.L., Cohn, J.S. and Porter, J.L. (1990) Vascular plants with restricted distributions in the Western Division of New South Wales. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 112: 213-227
Tryon, A.F. (1961) Some new aspects of the fern Platyzoma microphyllum. Rhodora 63: 91-102.
Tryon, A.F. (1964) Platyzoma - A Queensland fern with incipient heterospory. American Journal of Botany 51: 939-942.
Wheeler, J.R. (ed.) (1992) Flora of the Kimberley Region. (Western Australian Herbarium, Department of Conservation and Land Management, Perth)
Wilson, P.G. (2000) Platyzomataceae. In Harden, G.J. (ed.) Flora of New South Wales. Volume 1. Revised Edition (New South Wales University Press: Sydney).
Wollenweber, E., Scheele, C. and Tryon, A.F. (1987) Flavonoids and spores of Platyzoma microphyllum, an endemic fern of Australia. American Fern Journal 77(1): 28-32.