Asplenium decurrens
Common name
northern shore spleenwort
Synonyms
Asplenium obtusatum subsp. northlandicum Brownsey, Asplenium northlandicum (Brownsey) Ogle, Asplenium sarmentosum Willd.
Family
Aspleniaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Native
Endemic taxon
No
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Structural class
Ferns
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 | Not Threatened
Previous conservation statuses
2009 | Not Threatened
2004 | Not Threatened
Distribution
Indigenous. New Zealand: Kermadec, Three Kings and North Islands from Te Paki to just south of the Tongaporutu River in the west at to Lottin point in the east. Present in Australia
Habitat
On coastal rocks or amongst petrel scrub especially in places exposed to salt spray
Features
Rhizome stout, often forming a hard woody mass above ground, bearing brown, shiny, ovate, acuminate scales up to 15 ~ 4 mm. Stipes 20-180 mm long, dark brown at base, green above, stout, covered in narrowly triangular scales with acute or acuminate apices. Laminae lanceolate to ovate, 40-200 ~ 20-70 mm, dull green, very thick and fleshy, pinnate. Raches green, stout, prominently grooved and scaly. Pinnae 4-18 pairs, narrowly ovate to oblong, obtuse to acute, crenate-serrate to entire, cuneate at base, 10-40 ~ 7-12 mm, scaly on the underside. Sori up to 10 mm long, not reaching to lamina edge. Spores (39)45-52(60) microns long, (25)29-33(38) microns wide
Similar taxa
Recognized by the penchant for exposed sea cliffs; by the simply pinnate, thick and fleshy fronds which are < 30 mm wide; by the stipe and rachis which is scaly; by the usually < 8 pairs of pinnae; and by the pinnae bearing scales on the underside only. Asplenium obtusatum differs from A. decurrens by its allopatric distribution, ovate scales, mostly larger fronds, smaller spores and tetraploid chromosome number (2n = 144 cf. 2n = 288 in A. decurrens)
Flowering
Not applicable - spore producing
Flower colours
No flowers
Fruiting
Not applicable - spore producing
Propagation technique
Easily grown but generally rather slow. A spectacular pot plant.
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.
Attribution
Fact Sheet Prepared for NZPCN by: P.J. de Lange 29 August 2007. Description adapted from Brownsey (1977).
References and further reading
Brownsey, P.J. 1977: A taxonomic revision of the New Zealand species of Asplenium. New Zealand Journal of Botany 15: 39-86.
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Asplenium decurrens Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/asplenium-decurrens/ (Date website was queried)