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 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.

Recognised as the oldest known epiphytes, Tassel-ferns are ancient plants with only 13 species—classed as threatened. Devastatingly, recent years have only seen them decline in numbers. This decline is 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. Those in attendance gained valuable insights into Tassel-fern natural distribution—thriving in wetter, high altitude upland rainforests, and even lowland rainforest environments, such as mangrove swamps within the Daintree.

 

Tassel-fern workshop gathered at the Rainforest Rescue Native Nursery

 

Dr. Field also discussed his own cultivation efforts, sharing that the use of shade cloth significantly improved success rates in their growth and overall health. Participants left with a deeper appreciation for Tassel-ferns and the ongoing conservation efforts to protect them.

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.

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.

 

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 is 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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