This fern has a shiny and leathery upper surface and like all ferns, prefers damp places. It is very tolerant of extreme shade and so well suited to the dark, damp temperate rain forest where this one was photographed. The ordinary ferns do not have spores on the underside like many ferns. Instead a separate fertile frond is produced the same size as the others but with much thinner leaflets, producing the spores.

Rain Forest adjoining Gordon River near Strahan, Tasmania 30th August 2007

Added on 12th march 2008, updated 3rd November 2008, updated 5th March 2010, updtaed 11th April 2014