Blechnum patersonii


Common Name:

Strap Water-fern

Family:

Blechnaceae

Distribution (from Flora of Victoria):

Otway Range, Eastern Highlands, Gippsland Plain, Gippsland Highlands, Wilsons Promontory, East Gippsland (KNPRSTVWZ) also Qld, NSW, Tas
Map - Australasian Virtual Herbarium

Distribution and ecological preference at Wilsons Promontory (if known):

Shaded banks near streams and gullies 1

Flower Description:

N/A

Habit:

Fern 20-50 cm tall 1

Distinguishing characteristics (within family/genus):


Fronds are not divided into distinct pinnae but form a single strap-like lamina, that can sometimes be divided into large lobes 1
There are two subspecies, but only subsp. patersonii is present in Victoria

Images:

Image: Daniel Ohlsen

Links to more images:

Atlas of Living Australia MELU

Links to description of this species:

Flora of Australia NSW Flora VicFlora

Conservation status:

Not threatened

References:

1 Walsh, N. G. and Entwisle, T. J. “Flora of Victoria”, volumes 2 (1994), 3 (1996) and 4 (1999). Inkata Press, Port Melbourne, Victoria