Arthropteris tenella
Common names
jointed fern
Biostatus
Native
Category
Vascular
Structural class
Ferns
Detailed description
Rhizomatous terrestrial and/or epiphytic ferns. Rhizome 1.5–4.0 mm diameter, widely creeping; upper surface densely covered with spreading elongate, red-brown, often marginally toothed scales (these shedding with age). Fronds 120–300 mm long, tapering towards base and partly to apex; uppermost pinna pair and terminal pinna usually enlarged. Stipes 20–120 mm long; abaxial rachis surface bearing scattered scales and sparse to dense short curled hairs; adaxially sparsely invested with scales or not. Pinnae bearing similar hairs abaxially, ± glabrescent, and on proximal portion of adaxial and abaxial midrib (here persistent); base not auriculate; apex usually attenuate but acuminate or rounded in sterile pinnae. Sterile pinnae 5–110 × 10–18 mm; margins entire. Fertile pinnae 18–160 × 5–23 mm; margins entire to crenate (scalloped). Sori round, in one row either side of midrib, set at ⅔–¾ distance from midrib to margin; indusium absent.
Similar taxa
Easily recognised by the tapering, distinctly stalked pinnae which usually have crenate (scalloped) margins, and by the round sori which lack an indusia. Sometimes, such as when this fern grows on rocks or on the forest floor it may remain sterile, and such plants often have much smaller fronds whose pinnae lack the distinctive crenate margins typical of the fertile fronds of this species.
Distribution
Indigenous. New Zealand: Manawatāwhi / Three Kings Islands, North Island, South Island, Chatham Islands (Chatham Island (Rēkohu) and Pitt Island (Rangiauria)). Also Australia, Lord Howe and Norfolk Islands. In New Zealand reaching its southern limits on Banks Peninsula and Pitt Island (Rangiauria).
Habitat
Coastal and lowland forest. Usually found scrambling over rocks and climbing up tree trunks.
Current conservation status
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2022-2023 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS) – more information about this can be found on the NZTCS website. This report includes replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Previous assessments can be found here.
- Conservation status of vascular plants in Aotearoa New Zealand, 2023. 2024. Peter J. de Lange, Jane Gosden, Shannel P. Courtney, Alexander J. Fergus, John W. Barkla, Sarah M. Beadel, Paul D. Champion, Rowan Hindmarsh-Walls, Troy Makan and Pascale Michel Department of Conservation. Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
2023 | Not Threatened | Qualifiers: SO
Detailed taxonomy
Genus
Family
Synonyms
Polypodium filipes T.Moore; Polypodium tenellum G.Forst.
Endemic taxon
No
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Ecology
Life cycle and dispersal
Minute spores are wind dispersed (Thorsen et al., 2009).
Propagation technique
Easily grown provided it is planted in a frost-free situation. Prefers partial shade and a free draining soil. This fern does best when it has something to climb up.
Other information
Etymology
arthropteris: From the greek arthro (jointed) and pteris (fern)
tenella: Delicate
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.
ARTTEN
Chromosome number
2n = c.84
Previous conservation statuses
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2022-2023 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS) – more information about this can be found on the NZTCS website. This report includes replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Previous assessments can be found here.
- Conservation status of vascular plants in Aotearoa New Zealand, 2023. 2024. Peter J. de Lange, Jane Gosden, Shannel P. Courtney, Alexander J. Fergus, John W. Barkla, Sarah M. Beadel, Paul D. Champion, Rowan Hindmarsh-Walls, Troy Makan and Pascale Michel Department of Conservation. Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
2017 | Not Threatened | Qualifiers: SO
2012 | Not Threatened
2009 | Not Threatened
2004 | Not Threatened
Regional conservation statuses
Auckland: 2025 | Regionally Not Threatened | Qualifiers: DPS, DPT
The regional threat classification system leverages off the national assessments in the NZTCS, providing information relevant for the regional context. Auckland conservation status information is sourced from the “Conservation status of vascular plant species in Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland” Simpkins E et al. (2025) report.
Referencing and citations
References and further reading
Bell GH. 1998. Davalliaceae. Flora of Australia 48, Ferns Gymnosperms and allied groups: 434–450. ABRS/CSIRO Victoria, Australia.
Brownsey PJ, Smith-Dodsworth JC. 2000. New Zealand Ferns and Allied Plants. David Bateman, Auckland, NZ. 168 p.
Thorsen MJ, Dickinson KJM, Seddon PJ. 2009. Seed dispersal systems in the New Zealand flora. Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics 11: 285–309. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ppees.2009.06.001.
Attribution
Fact sheet prepared for NZPCN by: P.J. de Lange (26 February 2012). Description adapted from Bell (1998) and Brownsey & Smith-Dodsworth (2000)