Blechnum nudum
Lomaria nuda
Lomaria nuda
Internal links: Monilophytes > Polypodiales > Blechnaceae > Blechnum nudum
External links: Monilophytes > Polypodiales > Blechnaceae> Blechnum nudum
Wikipedia links: Monilophytes > Polypodiales > Blechnaceae > Blechnum nudum
Other links:
Common name: Fish bone water fern
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Conservation status: unkown
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Etymology:
From Latin blachnon, a fern, from Greek blēchnon
Spores:
Blechnum fernshave separate fronds for spore production
Leaves:
Typically has simple, pinnate fronds of length 40–60 cm
Fronds have a short, thick stipe that is sometimes covered in small hairs
The class of blechnum ferns are typified by having distinct fertile and sterile fronds
Fertile fronds are easily distinguishable from sterile fronds in the fishbone waterfern
Overall, sterile fronds tend to be more delicate in appearance, with a thinner longer stipe
Fertile fronds are simply pinnate, like the sterile variety, but can grow to be much longer than sterile fronds in the fishbone fern
Pinna are thin, with a rounder profile than the flat pinna of the sterile fronds
Fertile pinna are curved towards the tip of the frond, and are much shorter than sterile pinna
The longest pinna of the sterile ferns are in the middle of the frond, with length decreasing towards each end
Stem & branches:
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Roots:
The fern grows through an underground rhizomic stem, which spreads underground
Fronds emerge from beneath the ground via the stipe
Over time, one plant may spread its underground stems over a great distance
Habit:
A fern that grows up to a metre tall
Habitat:
Abundant in rainforest and eucalyptus forests in eastern Australia
While it grows well in full shade, the fishbone waterfern will thrive in areas of full sun if enough water is available
It can grow in a range of wet forests and thrives in areas of higher water availability
Because of this, it inhabits moist, poorly drained sites
Shade is an essential factor for the fishbone waterfern due to its need for water
Poorly drained soils are also important for times of lower rainfall - this allows water to be retained in the soil, available to the plant, even when rainfall is low
Thus this fern will often be found growing in roadside ditches where sun is plentiful, but water pools after running off roads
Creek beds are a similar, naturally occurring high water low rainfall habitat
Fertile soils allow the waterfern to propagate and become abundant in wet eucalypt and rainforests
In most suitable habitats, this waterfern grows abundantly
Distribution:
Grows in all Australian states except for Western Australia
Additional notes:
The species is placed in the genus Lomaria in the Pteridophyte Phylogeny Group classification of 2016 (PPG I), but is often retained in genus Blechnum as Blechnum nudum.
Reproduction and propagation
The fishbone waterfern displays a life cycle typical of ferns
Aside from having separate fronds for spore production, the fishbone waterfern shows a typical sexual reproductive process to most ferns
Vegetative growth is another strategy used by the fishbone waterfern to increase in number and size
This asexual reproduction is common amongst ferns
Uses
The fishbone waterfern is commonly sold in nurseries as an ornamental plant
Its hardiness and aesthetic qualities combine to make a plant that is popular among gardeners