Tall fern Blechnum magellanicum . This fern can grow very tall,up to 1.5m (5 ft), appearing to have a stout 'trunk' formed by the bases of old leaves, and long, coarse leaf fronds. Often Tall Fern will form dense beds and clumps of dead and live fronds on dry Diddle-dee heath, rocky hillsides and mountains. They are important nesting habitats for some ground nesting birds. Found on East and West Falklands, Fuegia and West Andean Patagonia.

Small Fern Blechnum penna-marina. A small fern growing up to some15cm (6 inches) tall, frequently spreading to form dense mats dominating coastal and Diddle-dee heathland. Very common an East and West Falklands and also found on Tristan da Cunha, South Georgia and associated sub-antarctic islands, Fuegia, Patagonia and southern Brazil.

Sources include: The Vascular Flora of the Falkland Islands- D. M. Moore, B.Sc., Ph.D, 1968,

Photographic credits: Robert Maddocks, Ali Marsh

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