Lomaria lanceolata, Br
Ferns Species:
Family:
Common Name:
Status:
Size:
Blechnum chambersii
Blechnaceae
Lance fern, Rereti
Non Threatened
Fronds 15-60cm long
Habitat:
Common in damp forest, especially along stream banks. Native to New Zealand, Australia, possibly also Fiji, Samoa and Tahiti.
Description:
Tufted ground fern forming flattish rosettes of fronds, divided into unstalked, finely toothed leaflets. Early Maori collected the young fronds for steaming in hangi cooking pits as a form of greens. In Australia, it is appropriately known as lance water fern and is known to have insecticide properties - undoubtedly developed by the fern as part of its defensive mechanism.
Distribution:
Found all over New Zealand up to a height of 1000m. See distribution map (bottom right).
Bibliography:
Andrew Crowe, Which Native Fern: a simple guide to the identification of New Zealand Native Ferns (Penguin Books (NZ) Ltd 1994) p38