Screw Fern

Images ©:
©Lindsaea linearis Russel Best CC2.5, Lindsaea linearis Nathan Fell CC2.5

Lindsaea linearis

A small fern with a creeping rhizome which is often buried in soil and litter, covered with narrow golden-brown scales. It has two kinds of leaves (fronds) - fertile and sterile. The fertile fronds are erect and longer than the arching sterile fronds. Segments of sterile fronds fan-shaped, veins radiating, outer margin scalloped. Spore-bearing structures usually continuous, making a spore case in a narrow band along the outer margin of the segments. Slender shiny stem is red-brown or black with a distinctive groove.

Details
Flora Type
Ferns
Distinctive Features

Fertile segments fan-shaped, curved down, outer margin frilled.
Biology

Perennial. Found on poorer soils in moist areas in grasslands and woodlands.
Native Status
Native
Taxonomy
Phylum
Tracheophyta (Vascular Plants)
Class
Polypodiopsida (Ferns)
Order
Polypodiales
Family
Lindsaeaceae
Genus
Lindsaea
Species
linearis

Source: Atlas of Living Australia

Known as the Screw Fern because its fronds may twist. This family is considered one of the most primitive of the modern ferns. Also NZ, New Caledonia and Norfolk Is.

Interesting Facts
Native Status
Native