Narrow comb fern facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Narrow comb fern
The narrow comb fern growing on a rainforest floor
Scientific classification
Genus:	Schizaea
Species:	fistulosa

The narrow comb fern, also known by its scientific name Schizaea fistulosa, is a small and interesting plant. It grows in many different places around the world. You can find this fern in southern Australia, New Zealand, Chile, and New Caledonia.

This fern is quite short, usually growing between 4 and 30 centimeters (about 1.5 to 12 inches) tall. It likes to live in damp, moist areas. The name fistulosa comes from Latin and means "tube-shaped." This describes how some parts of the fern look.

Discovering the Narrow Comb Fern

The narrow comb fern was first written about in science books in 1807. This happened in a famous book called Novae Hollandiae Plantarum Specimen. A French botanist named Jacques Labillardière described the plant. He studied a sample of the fern that was found in Tasmania, an island south of Australia. Botanists use these first samples, called "type specimens," to officially name and describe new plants.

Where the Narrow Comb Fern Lives

The narrow comb fern is found in many different parts of the world. It is quite common in southern Australia, including New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania. You can also find it growing in Western Australia. Beyond Australia, it lives in New Zealand, New Caledonia, and Chile. It has even been spotted in places like Borneo, New Guinea, Madagascar, and the Falkland Islands. This shows how adaptable this small fern can be!