Blechnaceae
This family are characterised by many of the species having sterile and fertile fronds that differ in appearance. The pinnate fronds are often pinkish when young.

Blechnum chambersii

Found throughout New Zealand.

Blechnum discolor

Found throughout New Zealand.

Blechnum filiforme

This Blechnum fern is unusual in that it has distinct juvenile and adult forms and is a climber.

You can see some juvenile fronds in the lower left of this image where the fronds are smaller and the pinnae ("leaves") are much shorter than the adult sterile fronds which are in the right-hand side of the photo.

The thin dark fronds are the fertile fronds.
 

On the ground the fronds remain in the juvenile form, but once a certain height is reached on the host tree, the foliage changes into the adult form.

Blechnum fluviatile

Found throughout the country.

The fertile fronds are usually quite upright.

Blechnum fraseri

This species looks like a small tree fern. The fertile fronds look similar to the sterile fronds although the pinnae become narrower.

The young developing frond in this image will become a fertile frond.

This image shows on the left a sterile frond, in the middle a young fertile frond, and on the right a mature fertile frond.

Blechnum membranaceum

Blechnum novae-zelandiae

Found throughout the country especially on banks.

Blechnum penna-marina

Common in the South Island and lower North island, especially in alpine areas. Found in localised areas in the upper North Island.

Blechnum procerum

Common throughout the country, though mainly at higher altitudes in the North Island.

Doodia australis

This species is characterised by its distinct pink colouration and harsh foliage.

It does not have separate fertile fronds. Instead, the sori (spore-bearing structures) are on the underside of the fronds in rows parallel to the mid-rib as shown in the image below.

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