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Scientific Name
Blechnum fluviatile
Family Name
BLECHNACEAE
Common Name
Ray water- fern
Status
Height
0.2m - 0.5m (20-50cm)
Flowers
None
Fruit
Spores
Form
Small fern forming rosette; fronds prostrate or spreading, pale green thin-textured.
Municipalities
Break O'Day; Burnie; Central Coast; Central Highlands; Circular Head; Derwent Valley; Dorset; Georgetown; Glamorgan-Spring Bay; Glenorchy; Hobart; Huon Valley; Kentish; Kingborough; Launceston; Meander Valley; Northern Midlands; Southern Midlands; Tasman; Waratah-Wynyard; West Coast; West Tamar
Communities
Rainforest; Riparian; Wet Eucalypt Forest
Habitat Notes
Common and widespread in rainforest, wet sclerophyll and fern gullies, from sea level to exposed subalpine creeks. Rare as a lithophyte of waterfalls and wet rock-faces, more common as a terrestrial species of creek and river banks or amongst boulders in riverbeds. Intolerant of dryness.
Site Tolerance
Exposed; Moist; Rocky; Shady; Waterlogged
Frost Tolerance
Soil Tolerance
Fertile; Loam; Poorly-drained; Well-drained; Rock
General Notes
Fronds, or portions of fronds, containing ripe spores can be placed in a paper bag which is left upright in a dry and draught-free place. Spores should begin to release immediately and all spores are released within days unless the species has tough, leathery fronds. Spores settle at the bottom of the bag. Some species produce vast quantities of spores from one frond, others require dozens of fronds to produce the same amount. 2-4 weeks after sowing specks of green appear. These are the young prothalli and during the next 6-12 months they are at risk from overcrowding and pathogens. When the first fronds appear the sporelings can be slowly hardened by gradual removal of the container cover. Great care must be taken to avoid drying out. Prick out sporelings when the second frond appears. Suitable below powerlines.
Propagation Details
Propagation Calendar
Flowering Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Seed Collecting Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Sowing Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Cutting Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Seed Information
Seed Collection
Collect spores when mature on the frond. unripe sori aregenerally light green then change to yellowish brown and to dark brown or black when mature. fertile segments on separate frond. see also general notes
Seed Treatment Method
Standard
Seed Storage Life
Viable Seeds Per Gram
Seed Treatment Notes
Sow spores into a pot in a water retaining medium with good drainage. Sterilise medium & containerwith boiling water and sow spores bysprinkling a small amount onto the surface of the medium. Cover immediately with clean glass or plastic wrap and leave in a warm area in strong light but not direct sunlight.
Germination Time
2-4 weeks
Suitable for Direct Seeding
Cuttings
Expected Time to Take Root
Expected Time to Plant Out
Propagation by Division
N.B. Transplant only from nearby to avoid disease.
Yes
Cutting Notes
Ferns producing stolons such as Blechnum species can be propagated by removing offsets from the rootstock. This method has a high success rate. Fast growing when in a suitable position.
Copyright 2000-2009, Understorey Network Incorporated. Updated 2024-11-11
Database development and website design by
Andrew Smith