Doodia caudata

Blechnaceae

Doodia caudata (Cav.) R.Br.

Link to Australian Plant Name Index for publication details and synonyms: https://id.biodiversity.org.au/name/apni/71082

Small Rasp Fern

Rhizome erect, to 10 cm tall, or short- to long-creeping. Stipe without tubercles. Fronds dimorphic. Fertile lamina pinnate, 5.7–46 cm long, 0.5–18 cm wide; apical lobe (one-third–) one-sixth to one-ninth of lamina length. Pinnae simple, stalked in basal third of lamina, stalked to partly adnate to decurrent in middle third, partly adnate to decurrent in distal third; longest pinnae 2–110 mm long, 1–4 mm wide; rachis and pinna midvein without tubercles. Sori 0.8–10 mm or more long, 0.8–1.5 mm wide, usually laterally confluent when mature, always confluent across pinna midvein, 1 row of several indusia or 1 unbroken indusium on each side of pinna midvein, nearer to midvein than margin. 

Endemic to E Australia between Hann Tableland in NE QLD and East Gippsland in Vic, also in Tasmania and Lord Howe Island. In NE QLD it is usually found on the western tableland regions.

Terrestrial on banks and creeks in rainforest and wet sclerophyll forest.

Readily cultivated in a container or in the ground in a semi-shaded tropical, subtropical or temperate garden or fernery.

Key to tropical Australian species of Doodia:

1a. Fronds strap-like and unlobed for more than half of their length = Doodia linearis

1b. Fronds pinnately lobed, not strap-like for more than half their length = 2

2a. Pinnae sessile and decurrent throughout = Doodia aspera

2b. Lower pinnae stalked, upper pinnae sessile and decurrent = 3

3a. Transition from stalked to sessile decurrent pinnae abrupt over 1–3 pinna pairs = Doodia media

3b. Transition from stalked to sessile decurrent pinnae gradual over 4–6 pinna pairs = 4

4a. Lower and mid pinnae deeply pinnatifid or pinnatisect = Doodia dissecta

4b. Lower and mid pinnae simple, not as above = Doodia caudata