Common name: gristle fern, soft water fern
Blechnum cartilagineum Sw. APNI* 
Description: Rhizome short-creeping, stipes covered with black scales.
Fronds erect, clustered, all ± similar, pinnate to pinnatisect, usually 50–100 cm long, often pink when young, pale green and ± harsh when mature, segments usually alternate, not markedly reducing in size towards base.
Sterile fronds with segments 10–15 cm long, 10–15 mm wide and minutely toothed, attached by broad bases; fertile fronds with segments 10–15 cm long, 5–10 mm wide.
Distribution and occurrence: Widespread hardy fern found in open forest and rainforest.
NSW subdivisions: NC, CC, SC, CT, ST, CWS
Other Australian states: Qld Vic. ?Tas.
Text by Peter G. Wilson
Taxon concept: T.C. Chambers & P.A. Farrant (1998)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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