Asplenium cimmeriorum
Common names
cave spleenwort
Biostatus
Native – Endemic taxon
Category
Vascular
Structural class
Ferns
Detailed description
Shortly-creeping, rhizomatous fern. Rhizomes up to 60 mm long, densely invested in blackish-brown scales, up to 10 × 4 mm. Stipes 25–130 mm long; stipes and rachises green, straw-coloured or blue-green, covered in subulate scales up to 25 × 1 mm. Laminae narrowly triangular or narrowly ovate, sometimes triangular or ovate, 2–3-pinnate, 35–220 × 15–70 mm, thin, dark green or blue-green, bearing scattered scales. Primary pinnae in 4–14–(17) pairs, 10–40 × 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.
Distribution
Endemic. New Zealand: North Island (cave entrances and limestone areas in the Waitomo area), South Island (more common in the west, 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 Austroblechnum lanceolatum (R.Br.) Gasper et V.A.O.Dittrich.
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 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: Sp, DPS, DPT, RR
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.
Detailed taxonomy
Family
Synonyms
None
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.
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Ecology
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.
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.
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
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 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: DP, RR, Sp
2012 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: RR, Sp
2009 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon
2004 | Sparse
Referencing and citations
References and further reading
Brownsey PJ, de Lange PJ. 1997. Asplenium cimmeriorum, a new fern species from New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 35(3): 283–292. https://doi.org/10.1080/0028825X.1997.10410154.
Attribution
Fact sheet prepared for NZPCN by P.J. de Lange 28 October 2005. Description adapted from Brownsey & de Lange (1997).
NZPCN Fact Sheet 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)