Common Ground-fern - native (Calochlaena dubia)

Family: Dennstaedtiaceae.

The fern was formerly known as Culcita dubia.

Native of eastern Australia.

Occurrence: Rare locally. It has been recorded at Fryers Ridge and Porcupine Ridge (south of the Shire).

Identification:

• fronds are closely spaced
• the leaf hairs are pale
• the lobes of the leaflets curl over the spores
• the frond stalk is pale
• the fronds are three or four pinnate.

calo = beautiful, chlaena = a cloak, referring to the covers on the spores; dubia =doubtful, uncertain (perhaps referring to the doubtful classification of this fern.)