Lastreopsis hispida
Common names
hairy fern
Biostatus
Native – Endemic taxon
Category
Vascular
Structural class
Ferns
Detailed description
Rhizome short-creeping, 5–8 mm diameter, densely scaly and hairy; scales 4.0–9.6 × 0.5–1.0 mm, dark red-brown to red-black, bristly, persistent. Fronds crowded. Stipe 100–480–(500) mm long, densely invested in harsh, bristly, stiff red-brown scales 4.0–9.6 × 0.5–1.0 mm and shorter, glandular hairs. Lamina 3–4-pinnate, deltoid, 100–500 × 60–300 mm, dark brownish green, rugose, glabrous except on veins and midribs; these invested in black bristly scales and smaller brown hairs; rachis bearing red-brown bristly scales and hairs; primary and secondary pinnae stalked, finely dissected. Ultimate segments narrowly oblong-lanceolate, sharply toothed; margins thickened with deeply cut into narrow curved teeth. Sori medial on the veinlets, or at the fork of these; indusium pale brown.
Similar taxa
Distinguished from the other New Zealand Lastreopsis and Parapolystichum species by the harsh fronds, and distinctive stipes and rachises covered in bristly red-brown to black scales.
Distribution
Indigenous. New Zealand: North Island, South Island, Stewart Island/Rakiura, Chatham Islands. Also Australia
Habitat
Coastal to montane. Usually in forest, especially lowland, riparian forest.
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 | Not Threatened | Qualifiers: SO
Detailed taxonomy
Family
Synonyms
Rumohra hispida (Sw.) Copel.; Polystichum schkuhrii C.Presl; Nephrodium hispidum (Sw.) Hook.; Polypodium setosum G.Forst.; Polystichum hispidum (Sw.) J.Sm.; Aspidium hispidum Sw.; Dryopteris hispida (Sw.) Kuntze; Lastrea hispida (Sw.) Houlston et T.Moore
Taxonomic notes
In a recent reassessment of the generic position of Lastreopsis Labiak et al. (2015) placed most of the New Zealand species of Lastreopsis within Parapolystichum. Gardner et al. (2017) completed the transfer—confirming in the process the findings of Labiak et al. (2015) that Lastreopsis hispida and L. velutina are still correctly assigned to Lastreopsis.
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Ecology
Propagation technique
Easily grown provided plants are planted in a permanently moist, shaded, well drained, humus enriched soil.
Other information
Etymology
lastreopsis: Like Lastrea, a fern known to the ancient Greeks; from the greek Lastrea and opsis
hispida: Roughly hairy
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.
LASHIS
Chromosome number
2n = 82
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 | Not Threatened | Qualifiers: SO
2012 | Not Threatened
2009 | Not Threatened
2004 | Not Threatened
Regional conservation statuses
Otago: 2024 | Regionally Not Threatened
The regional threat classification system leverages off the national assessments in the NZTCS, providing information relevant for the regional context. Otago conservation status information is sourced from the “Regional conservation status of indigenous vascular plants in Otago” Jarvie S et al. (2024) report.
Auckland: 2025 | Regionally Not Threatened | Qualifiers: DPS, DPT
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
Brownsey PJ, Smith-Dodsworth JC. 2000. New Zealand Ferns and Allied Plants. David Bateman, Auckland, NZ. 168 p.
Gardner JJS, Perrie L, Shepherd L, Nagalingum NS. 2017. Taxonomic Placement of Unassigned Species of Lastreopsid Ferns (Dryopteridaceae) Using Phylogeny. Systematic Botany 42(3): 385–391. https://doi.org/10.1600/036364417X695952.
Jones DL. 1998. Lastreopsis. Flora of Australia 48, Ferns Gymnosperms and allied groups: 405–415. ABRS/CSIRO Victoria, Australia.
Labiak PH, Sundue M, Rouhan G, Moran RC. 2015. New combinations in Lastreopsis and Parapolystichum (Dryopteridaceae). Brittonia 67: 79–86.
Attribution
Fact sheet prepared for NZPCN by P.J. de Lange (12 November 2012). Description adapted from Jones (1998) and Brownsey & Smith-Dodsworth (2000).
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Lastreopsis hispida Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/lastreopsis-hispida/ (Date website was queried)