This native groundcover is commonly known as broad shield fern.
Polystichum formosum is described as a "fern" in the Dryopteridaceae family.
In the Queensland Nature Conservation Act it is classified as Least Concern. Under the Federal Environment Protection Biodiversity Conservation Act it is not classified.
Recorded distribution is south of the Fraser Coast region. Listed as a special least concern species in Queensland (https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/plants-animals/plants/protected-plants/harvesting).
It has been recorded in the Wide Bay district in the Queensland Herbarium Census but is not listed as occurring in the Fraser Coast region in Queensland Herbarium Wildlife Online.
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Fraser Coast distribution based on unverified field reports.
AVH