Common name: Rainbow Fern
Calochlaena dubia (R.Br.) M.D.Turner & R.A.White APNI* Synonyms: Culcita dubia (R.Br.) Maxon APNI*
Description: Rhizome usually stout, covered with soft, silky, pale and dark brown hairs.
Fronds 0.4–1.5 m high, erect with drooping tips; stipe often mottled, yellow to brown above, darker below and at the base; lamina 3–4-pinnate, broad-triangular, pale green, lacy; ultimate segments asymmetric, usually deeply lobed with decurrent bases.
Sori small, circular, marginal in 2 rows, each covered by a recurved marginal lobe; true indusium small and scale-like.
Distribution and occurrence: Widespread in tall open forest, usually on poorer soils.
NSW subdivisions: NC, CC, SC, NT, CT, ST, CWS
Other Australian states: Qld Vic. Tas.
Text by Peter G. Wilson Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 1 (1990)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data ***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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