Hymenophyton flabellatum (Labill.) Dumort. ex Trevis.

Taxonomic Name

Hymenophyton flabellatum (Labill.) Dumort. ex Trevis. has plagiotropic, branched rhizome-like axes, with aerial shoots divided into upright stalks.

Frond Morphology

Its palmate or flabellate fronds are olive green, and fork 5 to 6 times. The forked thallus wings spread horizontally.

Segment Characteristics

Segments are flat, with slightly wavy edges, measuring 0.8 to 1.2 mm wide. Segments have obtuse apices and show limited growth.

Apex Features

The growing apex holds 1-celled marginal slime papillae.

Lamina Cell Dimensions

Lamina cells are 35-49μm long, 23-30μm wide, and 23-35μm thick. Marginal cells are shorter, 18-23 μm in length and 33-35μm in width.

Male Reproductive Structures

Each frond produces 3 to 4, or 5 to 6 male branches, which grow laterally on the stalk or nerve bifurcation.

Female Reproductive Structures

The female scale has a toothed margin.

Spore Dispersal Mechanism

Species in the genus Hymenophyton produce spores that are dispersed via an elongated, spirally thickened structure called elaters.

Central Strand Cells

The central strand of Hymenophyton flabellatum contains long, axially elongated water-conducting cells with pointed ends.

Water-Conducting Cell Structure

Mature water-conducting cells lack living contents, and their thickened walls have oblique slit-shaped depressions. Adjacent cells connect through small perforations located within these depressions.

Global Distribution

Hymenophyton flabellatum is commonly found in New Zealand, Australia, Tasmania, and Chile, growing in rain forest and wet forest habitats.

Habitat Substrate

It grows on shaded wet soil, humus, and old logs within forests, and along river banks.

Tasmania Survey Records

The 2010 Bush Blitz survey reported the presence of Hymenophyton flabellatum at two locations in Tasmania: Seventeen Mile plain and Vale of Belvoir reserves.

Teepookana Forest Record

An additional report recorded the presence of this liverwort at the Teepookana forest site in Tasmania, where it was found growing on a fallen portion of an old Huon pine tree.