Polystichum australiense

harsh shield fern
harsh shield fern at Narrabeen, Australia
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Division:	Polypodiophyta
Class:	Polypodiopsida
Order:	Polypodiales
Suborder:	Polypodiineae
Family:	Dryopteridaceae
Genus:	Polystichum
Species:	P. australiense
Binomial name
Polystichum australiense Tindale

Polystichum australiense, commonly known as the harsh shield fern is a plant found in New South Wales, Australia. The genus name Polystichum is derived from Greek poly - many, and stichos - rows referring to the many rows of sori. The specific epithet refers to Australia. An unusual feature is the growth of bulbils on end of the fronds. Sori are circular with a brown indusium, the stem is moderately scaly. Fronds are tough, having ultimate segments with distinctly aristate margins.

Seen in warmer sites, unlike the related Polystichum proliferum which usually prefers mountain habitats. The type specimen was collected at Garie Beach, and first appeared in a botanic publication in 1954, authored by Mary Tindale.[1][2]

References

1. Peter G. Wilson. "Polystichum australiense". PlantNET - NSW Flora Online. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
2. Robinson, Les (2003). Field guide to the native plants of Sydney (Rev. 3rd ed.). East Roseville, NSW: Kangaroo Press. p. 313. ISBN 9780731812110.