Prickly rasp fern facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Prickly rasp fern |
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The prickly rasp fern, also known as Doodia aspera, is a common plant found in eastern Australia. You can often spot this fern growing on the edges of rainforests or in eucalyptus forests. It lives in places like Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland. This fern grows on the ground and is special because its new leaves are a pretty reddish color.
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What's in a Name? (Taxonomy)
The prickly rasp fern, Doodia aspera, was first described by a botanist named Robert Brown in 1810. A botanist is a scientist who studies plants. The plant still has the same name he gave it!
The first part of its name, Doodia, honors Samuel Doody. He was in charge of the plants at the Chelsea Physic Garden. The second part, aspera, comes from a Latin word meaning "rough." This describes how the fern's stems and leaf stalks feel.
What Does It Look Like? (Description)
The prickly rasp fern grows upright leaves, called fronds. These fronds sprout from a dark, scaly underground stem called a rhizome. The fronds usually grow to be about 20 to 45 centimeters (8 to 18 inches) long.
Each frond has many smaller parts that are about 6 centimeters (2.4 inches) long. These parts have tiny teeth along their edges. They grow in a zig-zag pattern up the main stem. Both the fronds and their stalks feel rough because they are covered in small bumps. When they are young, the fronds are a pinkish color. As they get older, they turn green.
Where Does It Grow? (Distribution and Habitat)
You can find Doodia aspera all along the eastern coast of New South Wales. It also grows in Victoria and Queensland. It is very common in the Blue Mountains, which are west of Sydney.
This fern likes to grow on sandy or gravelly soils. It can be found on rocks like sandstone, granite, and basalt. It also grows on Norfolk Island. In forests around Sydney, it often grows on the ground in damp areas. You might see it under trees like the Sydney blue gum and forest red gum. It can grow as single plants or in large groups.
How Does It Live? (Ecology)
The prickly rasp fern is quite tough. It can handle short dry periods. It can also grow in both sunny spots and shady areas. The fern's tiny spores, which are like seeds, are carried by the wind to new places. This helps the fern spread.
Growing Your Own (Cultivation)
The prickly rasp fern is easy to grow in gardens. It likes shade or sun, as long as it gets enough water. It prefers soils that are a bit acidic and have some organic material. Make sure the soil drains well so the plant doesn't sit in too much water.
The new pinkish or reddish leaves are a beautiful feature. You can grow new ferns by collecting their spores and letting them sprout. You can also divide the rhizomes, which means carefully splitting the underground stem into pieces to grow new plants.
