Pellaea calidirupium
Brownsey & LovisRhizome long-creeping; scales ovate, c. 2 mm long, dark brown to black with paler borders. Fronds erect, 20–50 cm long, markedly but inconsistently dimorphic; sterile fronds usually much shorter. Stipe 10–23 cm long, densely clustered c. 5–10 mm apart, stiff, persistent, dark brown; stipe and rachis with dense covering of appressed brown scales and hairs. Lamina 1-pinnate, oblong, with 15–40 pinnae, coriaceous, with scattered scales on both surfaces, dark green above, paler beneath. Pinnae shortly stalked (stalks of basal pinnae > 1.5 mm long); fertile pinnae ±triangular, rarely falcate, 14–34 mm long, 7–12(–14) mm wide; apex acute or obtuse; base truncate to cordate; margins entire, often undulate; veins obscure except mid-vein. Sterile pinnae ±round or oblong, 12–22 mm long, 10–18 mm wide; apex obtuse to emarginate; base truncate. Sori in continuous band 1–2 mm wide along margins, reaching to apex and base; reflexed margin covering young sori.
VVP, OtP, Gold, CVU, GGr, NIS, EGU, HNF, MonT. Also Qld, NSW, ACT, Tas. Occurs in rock crevices, often in exposed situations.
This species is somewhat intermediate between P. falcata and P. paradoxa (which occurs in NSW and Qld), with specimens from Victoria previously included in P. falcata. Pellaea calidirupium may be distinguished from P. falcata by the appressed rachis scales, the strongly dimorphic fronds and more or less triangular pinnae that possess some scattered scales or hairs on both surfaces. Pellaea paradoxa also has dimorphic fronds, but is readily distinguished from P. calidirupium by its larger, strongly asymmetrical pinnae.
