Bowenia serrulata

(Byfield Fern)

Description

This palm-like plant to 1.5 m tall, can be found growing near Nursing Sciences (DB25), trunk is underground, the erect leaves/fronds are bipinnate on long petioles. Leaves are leathery, and shiny. Each plant bears 5-30 leaf bearing branches and on each leaf-bearing branch there are more than 12 pinnae which in turn bear the pinnules the margins of which are serrated at least on one side. Separate male or pollen bearing cones and female cones. Cultivated and fronds used by florists, it grows naturally south from about Rockhampton.