Asplenium cimmeriorum
Common name
Cave spleenwort
Synonyms
None
Family
Aspleniaceae
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.
ASPCIM
Chromosome number
2n = 288
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 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: RR, Sp
Previous conservation statuses
2009 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon
2004 | Sparse
Distribution
New Zealand endemic. In the North Island known only from the cave entrances and limestone areas in the Waitomo area. The species is more common in the western South Island, where it has been recorded from Karamea south to Punakaiki.
Habitat
Primarily confined to heavily shaded, calcareous rocks in high rainfall areas, especially cave entrances and archways. Often found underneath other ferns such as Blechnum chambersii Tindale.
Features
Shortly-creeping, rhizomatous fern. Rhizomes up to 60 mm long, densely invested in blackish-brown scales, up to 10 x 4 mm. Stipes 25-130 mm long; stipes and rachises green, straw-coloured or blue-green, covered in subulate scales up to 25 x 1 mm. Laminae narrowly triangular or narrowly ovate, sometimes triangular or ovate, 2-3-pinnate, 35-220 x 15-70 mm, thin, dark green or blue-green, bearing scattered scales. Primary pinnae in 4-14(-17) pairs, 10-40 x 5-17 mm. Secondary pinnae linear or elliptic, the lower ones divided. Sori 1.5-3 mm long, extending along the ultimate segments, 1.5-3 mm long, margins of indusia entire.
Similar taxa
It can be distinguished from Asplenium bulbiferum by its smaller size, shortly creeping rhizomes, narrowly triangular fronds and lack of bulbils. From A. gracillimum it differs by its small size, and shortly creeping rhizomes.
Flowering
Not applicable - spore producing
Flower colours
No flowers
Fruiting
Not applicable - spore producing
Propagation technique
Difficult. Can be grown from spores which taken anywhere from 16 -26 months to produce sporophytes. Rather slow growing. Does best in a pot in semi-shade. It is very prone to scale and mealy bug attack.
Threats
Probably more common than was believed when it was formally described in 1997. However it does seem to have a naturally sporadic distribution, particularly in the North Island, where forested, undisturbed entrances to caves are less common.
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.
Taxonomic Notes
North and South Island populations based on analysis of chloroplast sequences appear to have independent hybrid origins. Further research is needed to determine whether taxonomic distinction can be made
Attribution
Fact sheet prepared for NZPCN by P.J. de Lange 28 October 2005. Description adapted from Brownsey & de Lange (1997).
References and further reading
Brownsey, P. J.; de Lange, P. J. 1997: Asplenium cimmeriorum, a new fern species from New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 35(3): 283-292
Citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Asplenium cimmeriorum Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/asplenium-cimmeriorum/ (Date website was queried)