Arachniodes aristata

Dryopteridaceae

Arachniodes aristata (G.Forst.) Tindale

Link to Australian Plant Name Index for publication details and synonyms: https://id.biodiversity.org.au/name/apni/98242

Prickly Shield Fern

Rhizome long-creeping, densely scaly; scales narrowly triangular to linear, 4–10 mm long, 0.2–0.8 mm wide, brown, with a long-attenuate apex. Fronds spaced along the rhizome. Stipe 15–60 cm long, scaly. Lamina pentagonal, 23–45 cm long, 14–30 cm wide, dark green and glossy above, paler and glossy beneath, coriaceous, somewhat prickly; apex abruptly acuminate; main rachis pale, sparsely scaly. Ultimate segments ovate, 5–20 mm long, 3–8 mm wide; base unequally cuneate; margins with long sharp teeth; apex with a short point. Sori terminal on basal branches on the apical side of the secondary veins; indusium reniform, with a dark centre. 

Palaeotropical. In Australia it occurs from Windsor Tableland in NE QLD to NSW.

Terrestrial in in a wide variety of rainforest types. Often seen on road banks and hillslopes.