Hymenophyllum cupressiforme
Biostatus
Native
Category
Vascular
Structural class
Ferns
Detailed description
Rhizome long-creeping, slender, pliant, glabrescent. Fronds 20–90 mm long. Stipes widely spaced, 5–40 mm long, usually narrowly winged, ± glabrous. Lamina dark green, elliptic-oblong, deeply 2-pinnatifid, 10–80 mm long × 10–25 mm wide; sometimes with a pair of shortly stalked basal pinnae present; secondary segments branching from both sides of the costae, simple or 2- or more times divided. Ultimate segments 05–1.0 mm wide; margins sharply toothed. Sori borne on short basal segments on the acroscopic side of the pinnae, solitary; involucre obovate, bilabiate, divided to the middle or below, 1.0–1.5 mm long, 1.3–2.0 mm wide, much wider than the ultimate segments; base cuneate, slightly immersed; margins ± entire to irregular, or finely toothed; receptacle included or slightly exserted. (Description adapted from Bostock & Spokes (1998) and Brownsey & Smith-Dodsworth (2000)).
Similar taxa
Most often confused with Hymenophyllum revolutum with which it sometimes grows, and from which it is distinguished by its winged rachises and less prominently toothed indusial flaps. In the montane part of its range it may be confused with Hymenophyllum peltatum from which it differs by having solitary sori, and by its secondary pinnae which arise on both sides of the primary pinnae.
Distribution
Indigenous. New Zealand: North Island, South Island, Chatham Islands, from the Bay of Islands to south Canterbury. Most common in the Hauraki Gulf, south-eastern North Island (and in the Mangaharuru, Kaweka, Kaimanawa and Ruahine Ranges) and in North-west Nelson. Also in Australia (Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania).
Habitat
Coastal to montane. Usually rupestral in lightly shaded habitats. Rarely a low epiphyte on tree trunks and exposed roots.
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: DPS, SO
Detailed taxonomy
Family
Synonyms
Hymenophyllum antarcticum C.Presl
Endemic taxon
No
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Ecology
Life cycle and dispersal
Minute spores are wind dispersed (Thorsen et al., 2009).
Propagation technique
Difficult—should not be removed from the wild.
Other information
Where to Buy
Not commericially available
Etymology
hymenophyllum: Membranous leaf, from the Greek humen and phullon
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.
HYMCUP
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, SO
2012 | Not Threatened
2009 | Not Threatened
2004 | Not Threatened
Regional conservation statuses
Auckland: 2025 | At Risk – Regionally Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: DPR, DPS, DPT, SO
The regional threat classification system leverages off the national assessments in the NZTCS, providing information relevant for the regional context. Auckland conservation status information is sourced from the “Conservation status of vascular plant species in Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland” Simpkins E et al. (2025) report.
Referencing and citations
References and further reading
Bostock PD, Spokes TM. 1998. Hymenophyllaceae. Flora of Australia 48, Ferns Gymnosperms and allied groups: 116–148. ABRS/CSIRO Victoria, Australia.
Brownsey PJ, Smith-Dodsworth JC. 2000. New Zealand Ferns and Allied Plants. David Bateman, Auckland, NZ. 168 p.
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 (16 April 2011). Description adapted from Bostock & Spokes (1998) and Brownsey & Smith-Dodsworth (2000).
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Hymenophyllum cupressiforme Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/hymenophyllum-cupressiforme/ (Date website was queried)