Dryopteris cycadina (Franch. & Sav.) C.Chr.

Rhizomes erect, densely scaly. Rhizome scales ovate to narrowly ovate, 12–17 mm long, 1.5–4 mm wide, blackish-brown, concolorous, margins ciliate. Fronds 340–800 mm long. Stipes 130–250 mm long, pale brown, abundantly scaly especially near junction with the rhizome; scales narrowly ovate, blackish-brown, ciliate, up to 15 mm long and 1.2 mm wide. Rachises pale or yellow-brown, sulcate, not winged, scaly; scales scattered throughout but more abundant at pinna junctions, linear, blackish-brown, up to 6 mm long and 0.4 mm wide. Laminae 1-pinnate at base, elliptic, 180–580 mm long, 80–200 mm wide, mid-green on both surfaces, herbaceous, bearing flat scales on abaxial costae, ± glabrous on adaxial surface. Primary pinnae in 17–30 pairs below pinnatifid terminal segment, slightly overlapping, narrowly ovate or narrowly elliptic; the longest at or near the middle, 44–115 mm long, 14–17 mm wide, apices acute or acuminate, margins deeply serrate, bases sessile or short-stalked; not dark at junctions with rachis when fresh. Sori present on all pinnae, round, in 1–2 rows either side of costa, nearer costa than margin; indusia reniform, flat when young, 0.4–0.6 mm diameter, concolorous, glabrous.

Dryopteris cycadina is recognised by its erect rhizome with narrowly ovate, blackish-brown, ciliate scales, 1‑pinnate laminae with deeply serrate pinnae, and sori in 1–2 rows either side of the costa.

Recorded growing under forest and scrub on river banks, beside a waterfall, and on a lake shore, as well as in urban habitats.

Heenan et al. (2004). Voucher AK 283998, 2003.