Pteris pacifica

Pteridaceae

Pteris pacifica Hieron.

Link to Australian Plant Name Index for publication details and synonyms: https://id.biodiversity.org.au/name/apni/116246

Comb Brake

Large terrestrial ferns. Rhizome short, erect, scaly; scales narrowly triangular with a dark central band and broad hyaline erose margins. Fronds slightly dimorphic. Stipe erect, 15–45 (–95) cm long, pale stramineous; base with attenuate scales c. 13 mm long and 0.5 mm wide. Lamina 1-pinnate-pinnatifid, oblong or ovate, c. as long as stipe, herbaceous to chartaceous. Pinnae narrowly ovate, attenuate; largest pinnae c. 10–15 (–30) cm long, c. 2.5 (–4) cm wide; lowermost pinnae with 1 or 2 large pinnatifid pinnules growing from the lower side close to the rachis; pinna lobes cut almost to the costa, linear, obtuse, c. 3 mm wide; lower surface finely hairy, glabrescent; upper surface with spine-like growths on the costules; veins free, usually once-forked. Sori usually not extending to bases and apices of pinna segments; indusium very narrow, entire; paraphyses abundant. 

Ranging from the Windsor Tableland to the Whitsundays in NE QLD. Also in Malesia and the Pacific Island.

Terrestrial in mesic vine forest from sea level to 1300 m.

Readily cultivated in the ground or a container in a tropical or subtropical garden or fernhouse.