Ferns and fern allies of Christmas Island

There are 30 pteridophyte species known from Christmas Island. Only one is endemic to the Island. Most of the species are widespread or pantropical, or are common in Malesia, a reflection of the geographic position of the island.

Pteridophytes of Christmas Island

Aus = Australia; Chr = Christmas Is; Ind =India; Mal = Malesia; Mad = Madagascar and the Mascarenes; Afr = Africa; Pac = Pacific

Family	Species	Aus	Chr	Ind	Mal	Mad	Afr	Pac	Notes

Lycopodiaceae	Huperzia phlegmaria	Aus	Chr	Mal					Native; uncommon
Selaginellaceae	Selaginella alutacia		Chr		Mal				Native; rare
Psilotaceae	Psilotum nudum	Aus	Chr	Ind	Mal	Mad	Afr	Pac	Native; common

Adiantaceae	Pityrogramma calomelanos var. calomelanos	Aus	Chr	Ind	Mal	Mad	Afr	Pac	Introduced, naturalized; common
Aspleniaceae	Asplenium nidus	Aus	Chr	Ind	Mal			Pac	Native; abundant
Aspleniaceae	Asplenium polyodon	Aus	Chr	Ind	Mal	Mad		Pac	Native; frequent
Aspleniaceae	Asplenium listeri		Chr						Endemic; uncommon
Davalliaceae	Davallia solida	Aus	Chr		Mal			Pac	Native; common
Davalliaceae	Davallia denticulata	Aus	Chr	Ind	Mal			Pac	Native; common
Dennstaedtiaceae	Microlepia speluncae	Aus	Chr	Ind	Mal	Mad	Afr	Pac	Native; uncommon
Dryopteridaceae	Pteridrys syrmatica		Chr	Ind	Mal				Native; frequent
Dryopteridaceae	Tectaria devexa var. minor	Aus	Chr	Ind					Native
Dryopteridaceae	Tectaria dissecta		Chr		Mal			Pac	Native; not uncommon
Dryopteridaceae	Tectaria siifolia	Aus	Chr		Mal				Native; rare
Hymenophyllaceae	Crepidomanes saxifragoides	Aus	Chr	Ind	Mal	Mad	Afr	Pac	Native; often overlooked
Lomariopsidaceae	Bolbitis heteroclita		Chr		Mal			Pac	Native; common
Oleandraceae	Arthropteris palisotii	Aus	Chr	Ind	Mal	Mad	Afr	Pac	Native; occasional
Oleandraceae	Nephrolepis biserrata	Aus	Chr	Ind	Mal	Mad	Afr	Pac	Native; abundant
Oleandraceae	Nephrolepis multiflora	Aus	Chr	Ind	Mal			Pac	Native; abundant
Ophioglossaceae	Ophioglossum pendulum	Aus	Chr	Ind	Mal	Mad	Afr	Pac	Native; uncommon
Ophioglossaceae	Ophioglossum reticulatum f. complicatum	Aus	Chr		Mal			Pac	Native; uncommon
Polypodiaceae	Leptochilus decurrens		Chr		Mal				Native
Polypodiaceae	Microsorum punctatum	Aus	Chr	Ind	Mal	Mad	Afr	Pac	Native; abundant
Polypodiaceae	Microsorum scolopendria	Aus	Chr	Ind	Mal	Mad	Afr	Pac	Native; common
Polypodiaceae	Pyrrosia lanceolata	Aus	Chr	Ind	Mal	Mad	Afr	Pac	Native; abundant
Pteridaceae	Pteris tripartita	Aus	Chr		Mal	Mad	Afr	Pac	Native; frequent
Pteridaceae	Pteris vittata	Aus	Chr		Mal				Native; common
Thelypteridaceae	Amphineuron opulentum	Aus	Chr	Ind	Mal	Mad	Afr	Pac	Recent introduction
Thelypteridaceae	Pneumatopteris truncata		Chr	Ind	Mal				Native; uncommon
Vittariaceae	Vittaria elongata	Aus	Chr	Ind	Mal	Mad	Afr	Pac	Native; common

Updated December 1999 by Jim Croft ( jim.croft@environment.gov.au )