Hymenophyllum peltatum
(Poir.) Desv. Alpine Filmy-fernRhizome creeping, fine, with scattered red-brown hairs. Fronds irregularly spaced, erect to drooping, 4–12 cm long. Rachis very narrowly winged, dark brown. Lamina up to 2-pinnate, divided on one side of primary pinnae only (towards frond tip), narrowly oblong or sometimes short and stout (and more like H. cupressiforme), dark green with brown vein, ultimate segments linear; margin coarsely serrate; apex blunt. Sori small, in groups of 1–4 on short lateral segments arising from secondary rachis (adjacent to main rachis), not or only slightly immersed in lamina, appearing stalked when mature; indusium deeply 2-lipped, a little wider than segment, elliptic, apical margins entire; indusium becoming brown, stiff and recurved when mature, exposing sporangia on elongate receptacle.
CVU, HSF, HNF, OtR, Strz, MonT, HFE, VAlp. Also NSW, Tas. (including Flinders Is.). New Zealand, South America, South Africa, Europe. Usually alpine or subalpine, but occasionally found below 600 m altitude; commonly lithophytic on granite boulders. It is often overlooked when growing with the more robust H. cupressiforme.
Entwisle, T.J. (1994). Ferns and allied plants (Psilophyta, Lycopodiophyta, Polypodiophyta). In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., Flora of Victoria Vol. 2, Ferns and Allied Plants, Conifers and Monocotyledons, pp. 13–111. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
Spinning
