Histiopteris incisa

Location & distribution maps

Phylogeny & links to associated information

Wikipedia links:       Monilophytes > Polypodiales > Dennstaedtiaceae > Histiopteris incisa

Other links:    

Plant  information

Common name:         Bat's Wing Fern

• Also, water fern or fern mata

Conservation status: . . .

Etymology:   

• The lowermost lobes of each pinnae have a bat wing like appearance, giving the fern its common name

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Spores:                            

• Fertile lobes have the sori continuous, linear and exindusiate (without an indusium) but protected by reflexed leaf margins

Leaves:         

• Usually fronds are approximately 60–200 cm in length

• They are widely spaced, distinct, and slightly dimorphic 

• Fertile lobes slightly narrower than the infertile lobes

• Young fronds have a thick and whitish blue-green succulent stipe

• Mature fronds are thin, long with red-brown stipes

• Pinnae are pale greyish-green, almost a glaucous colou

• They are paired and opposite and set at a wide angle and very lobed

• The lowermost lobes of each pinnae have a bat wing like appearance

Stem & branches: 

• Has a robust creeping rhizome of 5-10mm width and is covered in brown or reddish scales

Roots:         

Habit:        

• A medium-sized fern

• This fern is a ‘weedy’ opportunistic species, freely colonising disturbed sites on the margins of, or within, wet forest, and often forming extensive colonies

• Usually found in moist areas, where it may form large colonies

• In rare situations with optimal growing conditions, the fronds can reach lengths of 7m 

Habitat:   

• It mainly inhabits high rainfall forests with poorly drained soils

• Found mainly in shaded areas as shade is necessary for pinnae survival although it can grow in less shaded areas with sufficient water availability

• Commonly found growing on the margins of wet forests, along more open scrubby creeks and gullies and at the base of cliffs

• It is less common in exposed highland situations and mostly absent from low rainfall regions

Distribution:                  

• Widely distributed and abundant across most of the southern hemisphere including Tasmania

•  Found in Australia, New Zealand and other islands in the south Pacific region

Additional notes:     

• Uses

  • It is found in many Tasmanian nurseries and is popular as both an indoor or outdoor plant, as it requires little sunlight and is very aesthetically pleasing

  • It is a popular pot plant, easily grown in a pot or open ground and is fast spreading in cool, moist environments.

Sources of information:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Histiopteris_incisa (2023)