Talking Tropical Tassel-ferns with Dr Ashley Field

Sporangia in leaf axils © Daniel Ohlsen, 2024-01-09, Atlas of Living Autralia

 

Rainforest Rescue’s Native Nursery facilitates threatened Tassel-ferns workshop

On Tuesday, 26th November, local landholders, botanists and environmental groups gathered at the Rainforest Rescue Native Nursery in Cow Bay for an engaging session on Tassel-ferns (Phlegmariurus spp., Lycopodiaceae). The workshop was organised by Paul Donatiu, Project Manager of the Queensland Threatened Plant Network, and led by Dr Ashley Field of the Australian Tropical Herbarium—a dedicated expert of Tassel-ferns. Dr Field shared his vast knowledge of these remarkable epiphytes and their ecological significance.

 

Dr Ashley Field of the Australian Tropical Herbarium (right) and Paul Donatiu, Project Manager of the Queensland Threatened Plant Network

 

Recognised as the oldest known epiphytes, Tassel-ferns are ancient plants with only 13 species in Australia—all classed as threatened. Globally, the genus Phlegmariurus comprises over 300 species—as per the Checklist of Ferns and Lycophytes of the World (Hassler, Michael. “Pseudolycopodiella“. World Ferns. Retrieved 2024-06-02.). These Tassel-ferns date back to the Jurassic period, making them some of the Earth’s oldest epiphytes. Devastatingly, recent years have seen a decline in their numbers, primarily due to habitat loss, tropical cyclones, and illegal collection. Dr. Field highlighted their critical role in biodiversity, providing habitat and contributing to the ecological balance of rainforests. Attendees gained valuable insights into Tassel-ferns’ natural distribution—thriving in wetter, high-altitude upland rainforests, and even lowland rainforest environments, such as mangrove swamps within the Daintree.

Unfortunately, it was acknowledged that raising awareness of the threatened species status of Tassel-ferns also brings them to the attention of determined plant collectors. Illegally removing the plants from their natural environment is a major threat to their survival as a plant family, with the potential to introduce diseases and impact on the natural genetic diversity of the remaining ferns.

 

Tassel-fern workshop attendees gathered at the Rainforest Rescue Native Nursery

 

Dr Ashley Field is a Senior Botanist at the Australian Tropical Herbarium, investigating the evolution, systematics, niche-specialisation, rarity conservation biology, and extinction in ferns, lycophytes, and vascular epiphytes in Australia’s Wet Tropics. He specialises in the genus Phlegmariurus (Lycopodiaceae) globally and serves as the curator of fern and lycopod families at both the Australian Tropical Herbarium and the Queensland Herbarium.

The workshop was organised by Paul Donatiu, Project Manager of the Queensland Threatened Plant Network. Rainforest Rescue is an official member of this network, which focuses on best practice conservation for listed plant species. Paul has a background in architecture, psychology, and environmental management, and has worked with various environmental organisations, including WWF and Greening Australia.

 

Australian Tropical Ferns and Lycophytes App

For more information on Tassel-ferns and related species, the “Australian Tropical Ferns and Lycophytes” app, co-developed by Dr. Field, is a valuable resource. It offers detailed information and features a key to help identify ferns. If you’ve ever wondered about the species you come across, this free app can assist in their identification. It’s available for free download on the App Store via this link or by tapping on the image below:

Australian Tropical Ferns

 

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