Common Name: Narrow Comb Fern
Naturalised Status: Native to Western Australia
References
- , “Schizaea fistulosa Labill”. 1997.
Rhizomes grow along the ground and are covered with dark brown hairs. Fronds growing or situated in a group. They stand upright and are undivided. They can be 4 to 60cm long and 0.5mm wide. They are either circular or not precisely circular with a groove on 1 side, scattered hairs and are smooth. Sterile fronds are similar to spore producing fronds but are much shorter. The spore producing heads are 4 to 50mm long and are usually 5-12 times longer than wide (rarely 2.5-3 times in reduced alpine forms). They can be narrowly triangular to straight or elongated in shape. They are broadest at or near base, tapering away from point of attachment and are straight or slightly curved. Their segments are 2 to 5mm long, smooth and either without hairs or with scattered hairs. Sporangia not mixed with hairs.
References
Occurs throughout Australia in south western WA, south eastern SA, south eastern NSW, southern Victoria and Tasmania.
Also found in New Zealand, New Caledonia, Borneo, New Guinea, Madagascar, Chile and Falkland Island.
References
Grows in a wide range of habitats and conditions including wet and open heathlands, on and near raised mounds in swamps and sedgelands in clay, sandy or peaty soils.
References
As Schizaea fistulosa can grow in a wide range of habitats and conditions, the species is extremely variable in size. In heathland habitats, plants are generally healthier and can grow between 15 to 60 cm tall. Some of the smallest forms are found in the alpine areas in Tasmania where conditions are more extreme and growing periods are shorter. These plants are very compact and grow in dense clumps, with their fronds growing to 4 cm high.
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