Scientific Name: Blechnum minus
Common Name: soft waterfern
Family Classification (Clade): Pteridophytes
Family: Blechnaceae
Form Description: Fern forms rosettes or clumps; fronds, usually 40-75cm long but can be up to 200cm, shiny green, thin textured, erect or semi, crowded.
Height (m): 0.4 – 1.2
Municipality
Plant Communities
Habitat Notes
Widespread in a range of vegetation but needs good light. In wet forest it grows where there is a broken canopy such as on riverbanks. Found in discontinuously inundated parts of creeks and rivers from coastal swamps to over 1000m. Re-colonises disturbed, badly drained sites. Tolerates wet clay when it also withstands sun.
Site Tolerance
Exposed, Moist, Rocky, Waterlogged
Soil Tolerance
Clay, Fertile, Poorly-drained, Well-drained
General Notes
Forms dense patches bushy to ground level. Frog habitat.
Propagation Calendar
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Flowering Month
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec -
Seed Collecting Month
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec -
Sowing Month
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec -
Cutting Month
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Propagation Method
Seed Information
Seed Collection
Collect spores when mature on the frond. Unripe sori are generally light green then change to yellowish-brown and to dark brown or black when mature. Place fronds, or portions of fronds, containing ripe spores in a paper bag and leave in a dry and draught-free place. Spores should begin to release immediately and all spores are released within days unless the species has tough, leathery fronds. Some species produce large quantities of spores from one frond, others require many fronds to produce similar quantities. Fertile segments on separate frond.
Seed Treatment Method
Standard Scatter seed thinly on to damp potting mix. Hold seed in place by covering with more potting mix to approximately the depth of the seed size.
Seed Treatment Notes
Use a moisture-retaining medium and a pot that allows drainage. Sterilise medium and container with boiling water. Sow spores by sprinkling a small amount onto the surface of the medium. Cover immediately with clean glass or plastic wrap. Leave in a warm area in strong, but not direct, sunlight. Specks of green appear after 2-4 weeks. These are the young prothalli. During the next 6-12 months they are at risk from overcrowding and pathogens. When the first fronds appear the sporelings can be slowly hardened by gradual removal of the container cover. Take care to avoid drying out. Prick out sporelings when the second frond appears.
Germination Time
2-4 weeks
Cutting & Division Information
Ferns producing stolons such as Blechnum species can be propagated by removing offsets from the rootstock. This method has a high success rate.