Lomaria lanceolata, Br

– Page 21, Lomaria lanceolata –

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– Lomaria lanceolata, Br –

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– Distribution of L. lanceolata –

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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