Highly developed ability to climb

Lygodium japonicum has been observed at Walton Bridge Reserve The Gap, directly under the bridge, growing on and amongst Native Ginger. There is a local native Lygodium microphyllum Climbing Snake Fern in rainforest, swamp forest or open forest; not common, north from Iluka, NSW. “Lygodium japonicum is a vine-like fern with a highly developed ability to climb herbs, shurbs, and trees. Its invasiveness arises from its ability climb to heights of 30 metres and smothers all vegetation by forming dense mats, which displace native species, alters fire ecology, and impacts rare, threatened, and endangered species,” according to the Global Invasive Species Database. Known [as native in Australia] only from Darwin, Northern Territory; probably a garden escape. Reported from Osbourne Island, northern WA but these specimens are a form of L. flexuosum. Introduced in Queensland and NSW. PlantNet on this species: Rachis sparsely pubescent, subterete, flattened on 1 side with ridged edges; primary rachis branches c. 2 mm long; secondary pinnae broadly lanceolate-triangular, 10-17 cm long, 7-17 cm wide, often broader than long, 3-pinnate; pinnule stalks reducing in length towards pinna apex; basal tertiary pinnules 3-8 cm long, 2.5-8 cm wide; ultimate pinnules ovate, lanceolate to triangular; sterile ones fused, palmately-lobed; terminal lobe much longer, membranous, sparsely pubescent; base + hastate; margins entire or crenulate; veins free; sporogenous pinnules smaller and more finely dissected than sterile ones. Sporogenous lobes 1-5 mm long.

Photo: Robert Whyte