FERN SPECIES – Facts and Figures (Thanks to the Victorian Fern Society and Chris Goudey for some of the following information)  12,000 of the 350,000 species of plants recorded by man are ferns and fern allies. There are more than 400 species of ferns and fern allies native to Australia Over 100 ferns and fern allies have been recorded in the State of Victoria The official listing for ferns represented in the Otway Ranges stands at 69 The Otways in the South West of Victoria is one of the best places in to view ferns in their natural habitat

In Australia, the distribution of ferns is uneven, often reflecting the availability of water for the sexual phase of the ferns life cycle.  The geographical location of Australia and New Zealand suggests that we would share a commonality in plant species.  However, there is only one species of tree fern that is native to both Australia and New Zealand and that is the Cyathea cunninghammi or Slender Tree Fern.  Despite the presence of cultivated species from both countries and thus abundant spores in the atmosphere, the tree ferns have not naturalised in either country.  According to Chris Goudey (1989:178) “It is therefore apparent that the environmental and climatic conditions must differ significantly between the two countries, thus preventing the further spread of Australian and New Zealand species into each other’s regions”

Did you know:
Total no of ferns and fern allies in Australia        Total no of ferns and fern allies in New Zealand        Total no of tree fern species in common	Approx 400 Approx 200       1