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Palm-leaf fern. NZ

Blechnum novae-zelandiae, commonly known as palm-leaf fern or kiokio, is a species of fern found in New Zealand. It can often be found growing in clay soil on embankments and roadsides

The red colouring in the leaves is a chemical called anthocyanin. It lives in soft young leaves and is like a sunscreen for plants! It helps with photosynthesis, where the plant uses the sun’s energy to feed itself.

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Uploaded on February 7, 2023
Taken on December 6, 2013