Common name: Giant Rasp Fern
Doodia maxima J.Sm. ex C.Chr. APNI* Synonyms: Blechnum maximum (J.Sm. ex C.Chr.) Christenh. APNI*
Description: Rhizome tufted, forming a short trunk, black, densely covered with narrow black scales.
Fronds erect, mostly 30–70 cm long, sometimes to 100 cm, dimorphic; stipe bearing a few tubercles, dark at the base; lamina lanceolate to ovate, deeply 1-pinnatisect for most of their length, dark green; segments to 10 cm long, spreading, narrow, with toothed margins, the fertile segments less than half as broad as the sterile segments.
Sori in 1 row on each side of the vein and located very close to it, usually 2–3 mm long.
Distribution and occurrence: Growing in open forest; not common, thought to be a natural hybrid between a Doodia and a Blechnum.
NSW subdivisions: NC, SC, CT
Other Australian states: Qld
Text by Peter G. Wilson Taxon concept: B.S. Parris (1998)
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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