Histiopteris
incisa is a widespread fern along the eastern coast of Australia. In the Canberra
region it grows in the darkest, most sheltered gullies. In the 1970s, there was
a small clump growing in a quarry on Mt. Ainslie, right in the heart of Canberra.
With major changes to the over canopy, possibly the result of bushfires, the fern
has disappeared from there, but its presence showed it is quite hardy if protected
from frost and provided with plenty of ground moisture. The photographs on this
page were taken in Far North Queensland, where the fern grows perhaps two metres
tall (over 6'). In the Canberra area it is less than half that.
The
pinnae are a pale greyish green (glaucous) and, as in the adjacent photograph,
the pinnules close to the rhachis (stalk) show the characteristic "bat"
appearance that gives the fern its name. It is a most attractive fern, but as
it spreads like bracken, it can exclude other plants if it likes the environment.
Histiopteris
incisa is a widespread fern along the eastern coast of Australia. In the Canberra
region it grows in the darkest, most sheltered gullies. In the 1970s, there was
a small clump growing in a quarry on Mt. Ainslie, right in the heart of Canberra.
With major changes to the over canopy, possibly the result of bushfires, the fern
has disappeared from there, but its presence showed it is quite hardy if protected
from frost and provided with plenty of ground moisture. The photographs on this
page were taken in Far North Queensland, where the fern grows perhaps two metres
tall (over 6'). In the Canberra area it is less than half that.
The
pinnae are a pale greyish green (glaucous) and, as in the adjacent photograph,
the pinnules close to the rhachis (stalk) show the characteristic "bat"
appearance that gives the fern its name. It is a most attractive fern, but as
it spreads like bracken, it can exclude other plants if it likes the environment.
