Blechnum parrisiae
Christenh. Common Rasp-fernFronds clustered, erect, 20–70 cm tall, stiff, harsh; in rock growth-form sterile fronds shorter than fertile ones, otherwise sterile and fertile fronds similar; young fronds often pink. Stipe much shorter than lamina, dark and moderately rough; scales broad, shiny, black, growing from tubercles which harden and persist. Lamina pinnate, dark green; lower pinnae (occupying less than one-third of lamina) oval to subtriangular, small, separated, attached by midribs only; pinnae below middle of lamina with bases strongly narrowed (more so on upper side), only the lowest pinnae stalked; pinnae in upper half sessile, widened bases contiguous, close-set; pinnae often with small dark scales on midribs; areoles narrow, in several rows on each side of midvein. Rachis moderately rough on lower surface, with short hairs and scattered dark scales. Sori oblong, 1–1.5 mm long, in 1–2 rows on each side of midvein, seldom becoming confluent.
VVP, GipP, OtP, WaP, Gold, CVU, GGr, NIS, EGL, EGU, WPro, HSF, HNF, OtR, Strz, MonT, HFE, VAlp. Also Qld, NSW (including Lord Howe Isl), ACT, Tas.,. New Zealand, New Caledonia. Almost coextensive with Blechnum rupestre in Victoria, occurring north of the Great Dividing Range in a few areas (e.g. upper Jamieson River, Strathbogie Ranges, Beechworth, Walwa area); spreads rapidly by runners and forms ground cover in open-forests, particularly near rivers, and in exposed habitats such as rock crevices or boulder-strewn slopes.
It exhibits a considerable variation in size and shape, and some growth forms are difficult to distinguish from B. rupestre but that species usually has dimorphic sterile and fertile fronds and sori that are confluent across the pinna midvein (and usually also laterally).
Source: Entwisle, T.J. (1994). Ferns and allied plants (Psilophyta, Lycopodiophyta, Polypodiophyta). In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J. (eds), Flora of Victoria Vol. 2, Ferns and Allied Plants, Conifers and Monocotyledons. Inkata Press, Melbourne (as Doodia media subsp. australis Parris).
Spinning
