Blechnum wattsii Tindale

Hard Water Fern

Rhizome creeping, branches few, covered with brown or black scales with pale, minutely toothed margins. Sterile and fertile fronds different. Fronds to over 1 m long, erect, rough, pinkish at first. Sterile fronds oblong in outline. Segments shortly stalked, the lower ones hardly shorter than the others; margins finely toothed. Fertile fronds longer than sterile ones, rough.

Formerly known as Blechnum procerum (G. Forst.) Sw. which is now considered restricted to New Zealand; it differs in having two-toned and fewer-toothed scales on the axes and, in general, more rounded ends to the segments. A variable species possibly forming natural hybrids with B. minus.

Will tolerate cool conditions.

E Australia.

Extremely dark green leathery segments.

Source: Spencer, R. (1995). Blechnaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 1, Ferns, conifers & their allies. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.

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Distribution map
kingdom Plantae
phylum   Tracheophyta
class    Polypodiopsida
order     Polypodiales
family      Blechnaceae
genus       Blechnum L.