| Crown fern | |
|---|---|
| Blechnum discolor near the Buller River, New Zealand | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Division: | Pteridophyta |
| Class: | Polypodiopsida / Pteridopsida (disputed) |
| Order: | Athyriales |
| Family: | Blechnaceae |
| Genus: |
Blechnum L. |
| Species: | B. discolor |
| Binomial name | |
|
Blechnum discolor |
|
| Synonyms | |
|
Lomaria discolor(G.Forst.) Willd. |
|
Lomaria discolor(G.Forst.) Willd.
Blechnum discolor commonly called crown fern (Māori: kiokio), is a species of fern in the family Blechnaceae. This species is endemic to New Zealand. As noted by C. Michael Hogan, this species is found in a number of forest communities in diverse locations within New Zealand, and is sometimes a dominant understory component.
Spores are produced on specialised fronds. These are more erect, with a dark and shrivelled look.