One bright side to the almost incessant rain we've been having is what it's been doing for ferns, which generally appreciate periods of higher rainfall.
All around the region, many fern species are putting out new fronds and shedding some of the tatty old growth that suffered through the horrendous heat and dryness of Black Summer. And one of the most colourful local ferns also happens to be one of the commonest, hardiest and most versatile.
The Prickly Rasp Fern (scientific name Doodia aspera) is named for the rough texture of its fronds, but the reds, pinks and bronzes of its new growth are a more striking feature when they're present. Right now, if you take a wander in almost any local natural area or around the Illawarra Escarpment State Conservation Area you should be able to spot Prickly Rasp Fern by its foliage.
As it tolerates relatively high light levels for a fern, it can cope in quite sunny spots on the escarpment, and also grows in the wetter eucalypt forests. ('Flourishes' isn't quite the right term for a fern, as ferns don't produce flowers!)
Photo © Keith Horton
Prickly Rasp Fern fronds aren't really prickly, though I guess you could call them rough because they are covered in small tubercles (aka lumpy bumpy warty bits). Even when the new growth isn't in full colour, their very dark greens make this species a distinctive element in the forest understorey. They also grace many local gardens, turning up uninvited in spots that suit them. In turn, they provide habitat for small lizards and frogs, which like to shelter among the fronds.
Emma Rooksby is the coordinator of the Growing Illawarra Natives website
