Asplenium subglandulosum
Common name
blanket fern
Synonyms
Gymnogramma alpina Potts; Gymnogramma rutaefolia (R.Br.) Desv.; Gymnogramma pozoi var. rutaefolia (R.Br.) Hook. et Baker; Ceterach rutaefolium (R.Br.) Mett.; Grammitis rutaefolia R.Br., Asplenium subglandulosum (Hook. et Grev.) Salvo, Prada et Diaz subsp. subglandulosum; Pleurosorus rutifolius (R.Br.) Fée
Family
Aspleniaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Native
Endemic taxon
No
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.
PLERUT
Chromosome number
2n = 144
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: SO, Sp
Previous conservation statuses
2009 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: SO
2004 | Sparse
Distribution
Indigenous. North and South Islands. In the North known from inland Hawkes Bay (an old record), the north-west Ruahine Ranges, near Cape Palliser, and possibly also Cape Te Rawhiti. In the South Island more widespread in the east from Marlborough south to Otago. Present in Australia.
Habitat
Coastal to subalpine (1 - 1400 m.a.s.l.), saxicolous, usually on dry, exposed and sunny rock faces or crevices and joints with little (if any) associated vascular plant cover.
Features
Reddish-green to red-brown hairy fern of dry or exposed rock crevices. Rhizomes short, erect, ascending, covered in scales. Stipes and rachises pale chesnut-brown to dark red-brown at base, green above, copiously invested in pale brown to red-brown 0.1-2 mm long, non-glandular hairs. Stipe 5-70 x 0.5 mm diameter. Frond lamina 1-2-pinnate, narrowly elliptic, 15-150 x 6-45 mm, dark brownish-green to brown-green, densely covered in pale brown non-glandular hairs. Primary pinnae in 3-11 pairs, flabellate, ovate or bluntly and broadly ovate; bases oblique to unequally cuneate, shortly stalked; margins dentate or more or less entire; apices obtuse or more or less rounded; longest pinnae near middle of frond, these 3-23 x 3-22 mm, divided into secondary pinnae; these up to 10 x 9 mm. Sori 5 mm or less long.
Similar taxa
This species could not be confused with any other New Zealand fern. Its preference for exposed, dry rock faces and crevices, usually devoid of other vascular plants, the small tufted habit, and the almost velvety textured, brownish-green, 1-2-pinnate fronds copiously covered in reddish to red-brown non-glandular hairs are key characters enabling its immediate recognition in the field and herbarium.
Flowering
Not applicable - spore producing
Flower colours
No flowers
Fruiting
Not applicable - spore producing
Propagation technique
Difficult - should not be removed from the wild
Threats
A genuinely uncommon, naturally sparse fern. Although widespread it is easily overlooked and it is possible that some populations have been eliminated by quarrying. Because it is unusual it is rather vulnerable to overcollection by botanists, a factor which has threatened some populations in the recent past. It is quite likely that some populations are threatened by the spread of introduced weeds into its preferred cliff habitats. Nevertheless it would seem that these threats have had little impact on the species’ overall distribution. Populations of this species should be carefully monitored to determine their long-term stability.
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.
Where To Buy
Not commercially available.
Attribution
Fact Sheet Prepared for NZPCN by: P.J. de Lange (17 April 2011). Description adapted from Brownsey & Smith-Dodsworth.
References and further reading
Brownsey, P.J.; Smith-Dodsworth, J.C. 2000: New Zealand Ferns and Allied Plants. Auckland, David Bateman
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Asplenium subglandulosum Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/asplenium-subglandulosum/ (Date website was queried)