Davallia tasmanii subsp. tasmanii
Common names
davallia, Three Kings davallia
Biostatus
Native – Endemic taxon
Category
Vascular
Structural class
Ferns
Detailed description
Terrestrial or low epiphytic, creeping fern with long, widely creeping, branched rhizomes. Rhizomes 2–8 mm diameter, rooting at intervals, initially densely covered in scales, these shedding with age. Rhizome scales on new growth, up to 12.5 × 2.2 mm, peltate, triangular-ovate, tapering to apex, pale orange-brown to yellow-brown, toothed from base to apex, bearing multiseptate hairs along margins from base to apex. Stipe black, stout, rather wiry, 62–210 mm long, glabrous except for scales at base. Frond 51–210 × 61–280 mm, deltoid-pentangular, tripinnate then pinnatifid, coriaceous, glabrescent, dark green, green to yellow-green. Lowest primary pinnae longer and broader than others; the basal basiscopic secondary pinnae 22–84 × 11–48 mm. Larger ultimate sterile segments incised, lobed or toothed; false veins scarce, if present inconspicuous, extending only half way to the junction of the true veins. Larger ultimate fertile segments notched, bearing 1–(2) sori. Indusia to 3 × 1.8 mm. Spores viable.
Similar taxa
Davallia tasmanii subsp. cristata von Konrat, Braggins et de Lange is very similar. This subspecies is endemic to Puketi Forest, Northland, North Island, and differs by the frequent rather than infrequent presence of conspicuous false veins which usually rather than rarely extend to the junction of the true veins, the usual prescence of one rather than several sori per segment; by the truncate rather than notched fertile laminal segment; and by the restriction of multiseptate hairs in mature rhizome to the scale apex rather than their presence from the scale base to the apex. Davallia tasmanii subsp. cristata is unusual in that it appears to be completely sterile.
Distribution
Endemic. Manawatāwhi / Three Kings Islands. Present on Oromaki / North East Island, Manawatāwhi / Great Island, Moekawa / South West Island, Ōhau / West Island and also Arbutus Rock and Hinemoa Rock in the Princes Islands.
Habitat
Mainly terrestrial but also present as a low epiphyte and also on fallen logs and branches. In full sun of heavy shade.
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: IE
Threats
A narrow range endemic abundant within its only known habitats.
Detailed taxonomy
Genus
Family
Synonyms
Davallia tasmanii Cheeseman - a heterotypic later homonym
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Ecology
Propagation technique
Can be grown from spores (rather slow) and rooted pieces. Rhizome cuttings strike easily enough though they can be slow to take. Resents root disturbance, so once established it is better left alone. Easy in a pot, and does very well even when root bound. Prefers a sunny situation in a well drained potting medium (bark is ideal). Will grow in a garden provided it is kept free from competiting plants. Frost tender.
Other information
Cultivation
Occasionally available from mainline and specialist native plant nurseries.
Plant of the Month
This plant has been featured as a Plant of the Month – see Trilepidea: NZPCN newsletter for November 2014 for the full story.
Etymology
davallia: Named after Edmond Davall, 18th century English-born Swiss botanist
tasmanii: Named after Abel Janzoon Tasman (1603-1659) who in the 17th century was the first European to sight Van Dieman’s land (now known as Tasmania)
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.
DAVTST
Chromosome number
2n = 80
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: IE
2012 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: IE
2009 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: IE
2004 | Range Restricted
Referencing and citations
References and further reading
von Konrat MJ, Braggins JE, de Lange PJ. 1999. Davallia (Pteridophyta) in New Zealand, including description of a new subspecies of D. tasmanii. New Zealand Journal of Botany 37(4): 579–593. https://doi.org/10.1080/0028825X.1999.9512655.
Thorsen MJ, Dickinson KJM, Seddon PJ. 2009. Seed dispersal systems in the New Zealand flora. Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics 11: 285–309. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ppees.2009.06.001.
Attribution
Fact sheet prepared for NZPCN by P.J. de Lange 1 October 2003. Description adapted from von Konrat et al. (1999).