Blechnaceae
Australian Tropical Ferns and Lycophytes - Online edition
Doodia media
Doodia media R.Br.
Link to Australian Plant Name Index for publication details and synonyms: https://id.biodiversity.org.au/name/apni/71266
Common Rasp Fern
Rhizome erect, to 10 cm tall. Stipe without tubercles. Fronds sometimes dimorphic. Lamina pinnate, 11.5–42 cm long, 1.8–8.5 cm wide; apical lobe one-seventh to one-tenth or less of lamina length. Pinnae simple; lower pinnae shortly stalked, transition to decurrent pinnae in middle part of frond abrupt (over 2–3 pairs of pinnae); longest pinnae 8–38 mm long, 3–6 mm wide; rachis and pinna midvein without tubercles. Sori 0.5–2 mm long, 0.5–1 mm wide, discrete to laterally confluent when mature, in 1 row on each side of pinna midvein, sometimes part of a second row towards margin; inner nearer midvein, outer nearer margin.
Widespread in QLD along the east coast and hinterland between Iron Range and Girraween. Also in Papua New Guinea.
Terrestrial, usually in rainforest in a wide variety of situations.
New fronds are often red. This species was discovered on Cook's first voyage to Australia in the H.M.Bark Endeavour.
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
Field AR, Quinn CJ, Zich FA (2022) Australian Tropical Ferns and Lycophytes. apps.lucidcentral.org/fern/text/intro/index.htm (accessed online INSERT DATE).
Field AR, Quinn CJ, Zich FA (2022) ‘Platycerium superbum’, in Australian Tropical Ferns and Lycophytes. apps.lucidcentral.org/fern/text/entities/platycerium_superbum.htm (accessed online INSERT DATE).