Polystichum proliferum

Mother Shield Fern
Mother Shield fern from Barrington Tops National Park, Australia
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Pteridophyta
Class:	Pteridopsida
Order:	Polypodiales
Family:	Dryopteridaceae
Genus:	Polystichum
Species:	P. proliferum
Binomial name
Polystichum proliferum (R.Br.) C.Presl

Polystichum proliferum is an Australian fern. Known by the common name Mother Shield Fern. It is found in cool moist areas of southern Australia. Seen at high altitude, where it may form large colonies. It grows in Tasmania, Victoria and as far north as Tenterfield, New South Wales.^[1] An interesting feature of regeneration is how new plantlets form, when the mature fronds touch the ground.

References

1. ^ "Polystichum proliferum". PlantNET - NSW Flora Online. http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Polystichum~proliferum. Retrieved 2010-06-09.