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Scientific Name
Blechnum nudum
Family Name
BLECHNACEAE
Common Name
Fishbone water-fern, Black-stem
Status
Height
0.3m - 1.2m (30-120cm)
Flowers
None
Fruit
Spores
Form
Fern , dark green fronds erect spreading in rosette, segments linear, joined.
Municipalities
Break O'Day; Burnie; Central Coast; Central Highlands; Circular Head; Derwent Valley; Devonport; Dorset; Flinders Island; Georgetown; Glamorgan-Spring Bay; Glenorchy; Hobart; Huon Valley; Kentish; King Island; Kingborough; Latrobe; Launceston; Meander Valley; Northern Midlands; Sorell; Southern Midlands; Tasman; Waratah-Wynyard; West Coast; West Tamar
Communities
Grassy Vegetation; Rainforest; Riparian; Wet Eucalypt Forest
Habitat Notes
Abundant and widespread in moist soils in a range of vegetation types from sea level to over 1000m. Seems to be absent only from the Midlands. Frequent coloniser of roadsides, logged forests and other disturbed areas. Grows in large colonies in semi-shade or shade. Tolerates boggy soils,
Site Tolerance
Moist; Shady
Frost Tolerance
Hardy
Soil Tolerance
Clay; Fertile; Loam; Poor; Poorly-drained; Sandy; Well-drained
General Notes
Fronds, or portions of fronds, containing ripe spores cn 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. This speies is suitable for tub culture.
Copyright 2000-2009, Understorey Network Incorporated. Updated 2024-12-11
Database development and website design by
Andrew Smith