Polystichum
proliferum (mother shield fern) is the only member of this genus
in Tasmania. It is a very common and widespread
ground fern in wet forests. The plants are large clumps, with large,
many times divided leaves that are dark green, harsh in texture and
have numerous dark brown, triangular scales on the underside of the
stipe and rachis. It often produces bulbils (small plants growing
from upper parts of the fronds) - the only other Tasmanian fern to
do this is Asplenium bulbiferum.
It is occasionally confused with immature plants of
Dicksonia antarctica, but that
species lacks the obvious dark brown scales on the underside of the
leaves. |