Parablechnum cordatum

Parablechnum cordatum (synonyms Blechnum cordatum, Blechnum chilense),^[1] the Chilean hard fern or costilla de vaca (Chilean Spanish for "cow's rib"), is a fern of the family Blechnaceae, native to Chile. It is also found in neighboring areas of Argentina and the Juan Fernández Islands.

Parablechnum cordatum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Division:	Polypodiophyta
Class:	Polypodiopsida
Order:	Polypodiales
Suborder:	Aspleniineae
Family:	Blechnaceae
Genus:	Parablechnum
Species:	P. cordatum
Binomial name
Parablechnum cordatum (Desv.) Gasper & Salino[1]
Synonyms[1]
Blechnum cordatum (Desv.) Hieron. Blechnum arborescens (Klotzsch & H.Karst.) Hieron Blechnum capense var.ornifolium (C.Presl) Domin Blechnum chilense (Kaulf.) Mett. Blechnum euraddianum Brade Blechnum gilliesii (Hook.& Grev.) Mett. Blechnum itatiaiense Brade Blechnum macahense Brade Blechnum ornifolium (C.Presl) Ettingsh. Blechnum peruvianum Hieron. Blechnum raddianum Rosenst. Blechnum reedii (Phil.) Espinosa Blechnum regnellianum (Kunze) C.Chr. Blechnum simile Sehnem Lomaria arborescens Klotzsch & H.Karst. Lomaria brasiliensis Raddi Lomaria chilensis Kaulf. Lomaria cordata Desv. Lomaria gilliesii Hook.& Grev. Lomaria ornifolia C.Presl Lomaria reedii Phil. Lomaria regnelliana Kunze Lomaria serrulosa Desv. Lomaria spissa Christ Orthogramma gilliesii (Hook.& Grev.) C.Presl Parablechnum chilense (Kaulf.) Gasper & Salino Spicanta capensis var.gilliesii (Hook.& Grev.) Kuntze Spicanta capensis var.lechleri (Mett.) Kuntze Struthiopteris brasiliensis (Raddi) Maxon & Morton Struthiopteris gilliesii (Hook.& Grev.) Ching

It grows to 0.9–1.8 m (2 ft 11 in – 5 ft 11 in), often developing a trunk-like appearance over time. The fertile fronds are more erect, with narrower pinnae, than the infertile ones.^[2]

This plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.^[3]