Asplenium appendiculatum subsp. appendiculatum
Common names
ground spleenwort
Biostatus
Native
Category
Vascular
Structural class
Ferns
Detailed description
Rhizome short, erect, bearing dark brown subulate scales up to 15 × 2 mm. Stipes 50–150 mm long, brown below, green above, covered in subulate to narrowly triangular scales with long filiform apices. Laminae lanceolate to elliptic, 100–300 × 50–150 mm, dark green, leathery or very thick and fleshy, slightly drooping, bi- to tripinnate. Raches green, scaly, prominently ridged. Pinnae 8–20 pairs, those at the base ovate, those above very narrowly ovate or elliptic, often with long relatively undivided acuminate apices, stalked, 30–100 × 5–30 mm, covered on underside in tiny scales. Pinnules: upper pinnules linear, entire and sessile; lower pinnules narrowly elliptic and pinnatifid or pinnate, up to 30 × 8 mm. Sori submarginal, 2–7 mm long.
Similar taxa
Differs from Asplenium flaccidum G.Forst. by its strict terrestrial growth habit, being octoploid (2n = 288) rather than tetraploid (2n = 144) and by having a more or less erect frond and a larger spore size. It can be distinguished from A. haurakiense (Brownsey) Ogle by its allopatric distribution, and by the lack of a greatly elongated basal acroscopic pinnule on each pinna. Asplenium appendiculatum subsp. appendiculatum differs from A. appendiculatum subsp. maritimum (Brownsey) Brownsey by its preference for inland habitats, somewhat larger, lanceolate to elliptic fronds which tend to droop, more pinnae pairs, with those at the base ovate, and those above very narrowly ovate or elliptic, often with long relatively undivided acuminate tips; and by the lower pinnules being larger, and narrowly elliptic and pinnatifid to pinnate.
Distribution
Indigenous. New Zealand: North Island (from Rotorua and near Pureora south), South Island (more common in the east), Stewart Island/Rakiura and Antipodes Islands. Also Australia and Tasmania.
Habitat
Lowland to subalpine (rarely coastal). Mainly in forested areas but also colonising bluffs and rocky outcrops, often in grey scrub. Strictly terrestrial.
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
Family
Synonyms
Asplenium terrestre Brownsey subsp. terrestre
Endemic taxon
No
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Ecology
Propagation technique
Easily grown. A very attractive fern which can be rather slow growing. Best in a large pot or planted in a deep, rich, moist soil in semi-shade. Prone to scale and mealy bug infections.
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.
appendiculatum: Appendiculate, with small appendages or projections, hanging in small fragments
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.
ASPASA
Chromosome number
2n = 288
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
The regional threat classification system leverages off the national assessments in the NZTCS, providing information relevant for the regional context. Otago conservation status information is sourced from the “Regional conservation status of indigenous vascular plants in Otago” Jarvie S et al. (2024) report.
Otago: 2024 | Regionally Not Threatened
Referencing and citations
References and further reading
Brownsey PJ. 1977. A taxonomic revision of the New Zealand species of Asplenium. New Zealand Journal of Botany 15(1): 39–86. https://doi.org/10.1080/0028825X.1977.10429618.
Attribution
Fact Sheet prepared for NZPCN by P.J. de Lange (3 February 2005). Description from: Brownsey (1971).
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Asplenium appendiculatum subsp. appendiculatum Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/asplenium-appendiculatum-subsp-appendiculatum/ (Date website was queried)