Angiopteris evecta Hoffm.

King Fern

Rhizome forming a roundish trunk eventually to nearly 1 m tall. Blade divided 2 or occasionally to 4 times and up to 5 m or more long, glossy. Segments narrowly oblong, to about 15 cm long, with short stalks. Sporangia in 3-7 pairs near the margin.

Needs shelter and warmth. The largest (but not tallest) of living ferns. A fine specimen can be seen at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney next to the kiosk.

Qld, N NSW, Pacific, Malesia.

Similar to Marattia salicina except for the smooth frond stalks and different soral structure.

Source: Spencer, R. (1995). Marattiaceae. 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    Marattiopsida
order     Marattiales
family      Marattiaceae
genus       Angiopteris Hoffm.