Asplenium aethiopicum
Biostatus
Exotic
Conservation status
Not applicable
Category
Vascular
Structural class
Ferns
Distribution
Naturalised in New Zealand. Reported from Bay of Islands, Auckland and Christchurch. Uncommon but appears to be increasing around Auckland.
Detailed taxonomy
Genus
Family
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Ecology
Year naturalised
2003
Reason for introduction
Horticultural
Tolerances
Dislikes damp or wet places. Prefers dry, hot, sunny sites.
Life cycle and dispersal
Reproduces by spores, dispersed by wind.
Other information
Etymology
asplenium: From the Greek a- ‘without’ and splene ‘spleen’, a northern hemisphere species, the black spleenwort (Asplenium adiantum-nigrum), was once believed to be a cure for diseases of the spleen.
aethiopicum: Africa (especially South Africa); name derived from Aethiops, an African and son of Vulcan, the Greek God of metalworking and fire
Referencing and citations
Attribution
Fact Sheet prepared for NZPCN by P.J. de Lange (7 March 2005).