Wallum Study Group
Picture : Branched Comb Fern - Upper part of the fertile frond
- Plant Name: Schizaea dichotoma
- Common Name: Branched Comb Fern
- Plant Family: Schizaeaceae (Climbing Fern Family)
This unusual grass-like plant belongs to a relative primitive family of ferns and grows on sandy soils in coastal wallum heath and the shade of dry sclerophyll forests. It has a short rhizome (prostrate or underground stem sending out roots from the lower surface and stem from the upper surface).
It lives in a close relationship (symbiosis) with a fungi which invades the germinating spores, this relationship, therefore assumes the plant is dependent for nutrition, upon rotting organic material (saprophytic). The infertile fronds, with many forks and fan-shaped arrangements are usually the most conspicuous part for most of the year. The fertile fronds with two divided rows of long fine brown hair, is also repeatedly branched but the branches appear lower down on the stem, is more erect and only present for short periods of the year.
The plant will resent any disturbance to their root system's, making it difficult to transplant or propagate and so the continuing destruction of their coastal habitat will also threaten their survival.