Adiantum cunninghamii
Common name
common maidenhair, Cunningham’s maidenhair
Synonyms
Adiantum formosum var. cunninghamii (Hook.) F.Muell.; Adiantum trapeziforme G.Forst.; Adiantum affine var. chathamicum Field; Adiantum affine var. pullum (Colenso) Domin; Adiantum affine sensu G.M. Thomson; Adiantum formosum sensu A.Rich.; Adiantum pullum Colenso
Family
Pteridaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Native
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Structural class
Ferns
NVS code
The National Vegetation Survey (NVS) Databank is a physical archive and electronic databank containing records of over 94,000 vegetation survey plots - including data from over 19,000 permanent plots. NVS maintains a standard set of species code abbreviations that correspond to standard scientific plant names from the Ngä Tipu o Aotearoa - New Zealand Plants database.
ADICUN
Chromosome number
2n = 116
Current conservation status
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2017 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS). This report includes a statistical summary and brief notes on changes since 2012 and replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Authors: By Peter J. de Lange, Jeremy R. Rolfe, John W. Barkla, Shannel P. Courtney, Paul D. Champion, Leon R. Perrie, Sarah M. Beadel, Kerry A. Ford, Ilse Breitwieser, Ines Schönberger, Rowan Hindmarsh-Walls, Peter B. Heenan and Kate Ladley.
2012 | Not Threatened
Previous conservation statuses
2009 | Not Threatened
2004 | Not Threatened
Distribution
Endemic. Kermadec, Three Kings, North, South, Stewart and Chatham Islands.
Habitat
Common throughout in coastal and lowland forest, occasionally extending into upper montane forests. Usually found on banks, cliff faces and amongst boulders - especially on limestone, marble, basalt or andesite rocks.
Features
Tufted, terrestrial fern. Rhizomes, short- to long-creeping. Stipes and rachises glabrous. Fronds adaxially dark green or glaucescent, abaxially paler, glaucous green, ovate to elliptic. Lamina 100-350 x 50-240 mm, 2-3-pinnate at base, Ultimate segments stalked to one side, oblong, tending to curve acroscopically at apices, upper margins irregularly toothed, lower margins smooth, glabrous. Indusia kidney-shaped, glabrous.
Similar taxa
Could be confused with A. fulvum, and A. viridescens. From both it is immediately distinguished by the glabrous rather than hairy primary pinnae. However, in situations of uncertainty A. fulvum is easily distinguished by its glabrous rather than hairy ultimate segment undersides, and A. viridescens differs by the narrower often sickle-shaped, shiny, dark green, ultimate segments, and glabrous primary pinnae.
Flowering
Not applicable - spore producing
Flower colours
No flowers
Fruiting
Not applicable - spore producing
Life cycle
Minute spores are wind dispersed (Thorsen et al., 2009).
Propagation technique
Slow but once established easy. Best grown from spores which must be sown fresh. Spores may take several years to produce plants.
Etymology
adiantum: From the Greek a- ‘without, lacking’ and diantos ‘moistened’, the fronds of this fern are supposed to remain dry after submersion in water
cunninghamii: Named after Allan Cunningham (1791 – 1839) who was an English botanist and explorer, primarily known for his travels to Australia (New South Wales) and New Zealand to collect plants. Author of Florae Insularum Novae Zelandiae Precursor, 1837-40 (Introduction to the flora of New Zealand).
Attribution
Fact Sheet Prepared for NZPCN by: P.J. de Lange (June 2005). Description adapted from Brownsey & Smith-Dodsworth (2000).
References and further reading
Brownsey, P.J.; Smith-Dodsworth, J.C. 2000: New Zealand Ferns and Allied Plants. Auckland, David Bateman
Thorsen, M. J.; Dickinson, K. J. M.; Seddon, P. J. 2009. Seed dispersal systems in the New Zealand flora. Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics 2009 Vol. 11 No. 4 pp. 285-309
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Adiantum cunninghamii Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/adiantum-cunninghamii/ (Date website was queried)