Doodia media

Blechnaceae

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