''Gleichenia abscida'', commonly known as dwarf coral fern, is an uncommon alpine fern found in southwestern

Tasmania ) , nickname = , image_map = Tasmania in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Tasmania in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdi ...

. Described by English born dentist and botanist

Leonard Rodway Leonard Rodway (5 October 1853 – 9 March 1936) was an English-born Australian dentist and botanist. Early life Rodway was born in Torquay Devon, England, the thirteenth child of Henry Barron Rodway, a dentist and inventor of the Rodway life ...

, that which distinguishes ''G. abscida'' the most from all other species of ''

Gleichenia ''Gleichenia'' is a genus of ferns. Its closest relative is the genus ''Stromatopteris'', restricted to New Caledonia. Species include: * '' Gleichenia abscida'' Rodway * ''Gleichenia alpina ''Gleichenia alpina'', commonly known as alpine cor ...

'' is its frond. While each other species of ''Gleichenia'' have a repetitively branching frond, ''G. abscida'''s frond consists of just two blades, with the apical axil between these two blades lacking meristematic tissue.

Morphology

Multiple stipes (25–40), 9–46 cm long, with fronds up to 65 cm in length, arise from long creeping rhizomes 2.5–3.5 mm in diameter. Scaly rounded pinnules 1–2 mm across, with flat adaxial surfaces and strongly recurved into an abaxial pouch, hold sori of 2–4 sporangia. Gleichenia abscida growing amongst alpine scrub north of Federation peak

Gleichenia abscida growing amongst alpine scrub north of Federation peak

References

Flora of Tasmania abscida Ferns of Australia {{Polypodiidae-stub