Leptopteris hymenophylloides
Common names
crêpe fern, single crêpe fern, heruheru
Biostatus
Native – Endemic taxon
Category
Vascular
Structural class
Ferns
Flower colours
No flowers
Detailed description
Trunks up to 0.1 m tall. Stipes 0.15–0.5 m long, pale brown, sparsely hairy, with ear like lobes at base. Frond delicate, membranous, translucent, laminae ± deltoid, 3-pinnate, 0.2–1.0m long, 150–350 mm wide, dark green to light emerald green, sparsely hairy, veins free. Primary pinnae in 20–30 pairs, widely spaced, basal ones 60–120 mm long. Ultimate segments linear, flattened in plane of frond. Sporangia scattered on underside of pinnae (not in discrete sori), though tending to be more abundant toward frond centre. (Description modified from Brownsey & Smith-Dodsworth (2000)).
Similar taxa
Leptopteris hymenophylloides differs from the closely related L. superba by its longer stipe, triangular frond, longer and broader pinnae, and by its ultimate lamina segments flattened in one plane. Where both species meet they commonly hybridise to produce the hybrid known as Leptopteris ×intermedia (André) Brownsey.
Distribution
Endemic. New Zealand: North Island (from North Cape (Whiriwhiri Stream) south), South Island, Stewart Island/Rakiura, Chatham Islands. Common throughout, though more abundant in the northern part of its range.
Habitat
Lowland to montane forest. Rarely in gumland scrub and coastal forest. Usually found along stream sides, and on damp banks, occasional on forested ridge lines. Once established this species is remarkably tolerant of drought and high light conditions and so it can be found growing as a persistent relict in disturbed forest or in areas cleared by wind throw.
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
Detailed taxonomy
Family
Synonyms
Todea hymenophylloides A.Rich.; Todea marginata Colenso; Todea pellucida Carmich. ex Grev. et Hook.; Leptopteris marginata (Colenso) C.Chr.; Osmunda hymenophylloides (A.Rich.) J.B.Armstr.
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Ecology
Flowering
N.A.
Fruiting
N.A.
Life cycle and dispersal
Minute spores are wind dispersed (Thorsen et al. 2009).
Propagation technique
Easily grown in a damp shaded site, in a free draining but moist, humus enriched soil.
Other information
Etymology
leptopteris: Thin fern; from the Greek leptos and pteris
hymenophylloides: Resembling Hymenophyllum
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.
LEPHYM
Chromosome number
2n = 44
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
2012 | Not Threatened
2009 | Not Threatened
2004 | Not Threatened
Regional conservation statuses
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.
Otago: 2024 | Regionally Not Threatened
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.
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 10 March 2011. Description modified from Brownsey & Smith-Dodsworth 2000.
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Leptopteris hymenophylloides Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/leptopteris-hymenophylloides/ (Date website was queried)