Hymenophyllum rufescens
Common name
filmy fern
Synonyms
Mecodium rufescens (Kirk) Copel.
Family
Hymenophyllaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Native
Endemic taxon
Yes
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.
HYMRUF
Chromosome number
2n = 44
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
Endemic. New Zealand. North, South and Stewart Islands. From Te Moehau and Mt Pirongia south by often rather uncommon.
Habitat
Lowland to subalpine. Strictly montane to subalpine in the North Island but descending to almost sea level in the western South Island. Usually a low epiphyte on tree trunks where it is commonly found in tree root caves or on overhanging tree roots. Also in holes on rotting logs, or on damp rock faces, overhangs or amongst boulders. Occasionally sympatric with H. flabellatum with which it appears to hybridise.
Features
Terrestrial or low epiphytic fern forming diffuse creeping patches. Rhizomes long-creeping, thin, rather brittle. Fronds somewhat reddish yellow-green to red-green or dark red-green. Stipes 10-800 mm long, thin, brittle, not winged, bearing long, pale red-brown to brown unbranched hairs; rachises very narrowly winged in upper portion. Laminae 10-50 × 1-50 mm, deltoid, 1(-2)-pinnate, adaxially and abaxially bearing long pale red-brown, brown or reddish white curly hairs (these increasing in density toward laminae base and rachis). Pinnae deltoid-flabellate, flabellate, margins smooth. Sori terminating ultimate segments, slightly sunk in lamina, several on each primary pinna. Indusial flaps entire or minutely toothed.
Similar taxa
Allied to Hymenophyllum flabellatum from which it differs by its smaller size, and strongly deltoid fronds whose surfaces are covered in curly usually reddish hairs. The stipes of H. rufescens are generally as long as or longer than the frond laminae. Intermediates between H. rufescens and H. flabellatum occur and these could be hybrids.
Flowering
N.A.
Flower colours
No flowers
Fruiting
N.A.
Life cycle
Minute spores are wind dispersed (Thorsen et al., 2009).
Propagation technique
Difficult - should not be removed from the wild
Threats
Not Threatened but not that common and biologically sparse so probably worthy of listing as “At Risk/Naturally Uncommon”
Etymology
hymenophyllum: Membranous leaf, from the Greek humen and phullon
Where To Buy
Not commercially available
Attribution
Fact sheet prepared for NZPCN by P.J. de Lange (20 April 2011). Description adapted from Brownsey & Smith-Dodsworth (2000).
References and further reading
Brownsey, P.J.; Smith-Dodsworth, J.C. 2000: New Zealand Ferns and Allied Plants. Auckland, David Bateman
Thorsen, M. J.; Dickinson, K. J. M.; Seddon, P. J. 2009. Seed dispersal systems in the New Zealand flora. Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics 11: 285-309
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Hymenophyllum rufescens Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/hymenophyllum-rufescens/ (Date website was queried)