Arachniodes aristata is a species of fern in the family Dryopteridaceae. It is a glossy fern with fronds up to 1 m (3 ft 3 in) long. The type specimen was collected by George Forster at an unknown island in the Pacific Ocean, when travelling on the second voyage of James Cook. This plant was first formally named Polypodium aristatum in 1786 in the Florulae Insularum Australium Prodromus, published by his father Johann Reinhold Forster. The specific epithet "aristata" derives from Latin, meaning "bearing a bristle". It is native to islands of the Pacific.
From Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Is it poisonous?
We have no record of Prickly Shield fern being toxic, poisonous or venomous. That is not proof that it is safe. Never eat, touch or handle a wild plant, mushroom or animal on the strength of an identification; ask someone qualified.
Easily confused with
Classification
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Phylum
- Tracheophyta
- Class
- Polypodiopsida
- Order
- Polypodiales
- Family
- Dryopteridaceae
- Genus
- Arachniodes
- Species
- Arachniodes aristata
Found one? Take a photo and B.inomen will suggest what it is, free.
Check your photo