Lindsaea linearis
Synonyms
Lindsaea linearis var. trilobata (Colenso) C.Chr.; Adiantum lineare (Sw.) Poir.; Lindsaea lunata Willd.; Lindsaea trilobata Colenso
Family
Lindsaeaceae
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.
LINLIN
Chromosome number
2n = 68
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) – more information about this can be found on the NZTCS website. This report includes a statistical summary and brief notes on changes since 2012 and replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants.
Please note, threat classifications are often suggested by authors when publications fall between NZTCS assessment periods – an interim threat classification status has not been assessed by the NZTCS panel.
- Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017 . 2018. 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. 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
Previous conservation statuses
2012 | Not Threatened
2009 | Not Threatened
2004 | Not Threatened
Distribution
Indigenous. New Zealand: Three Kings, North, South, Stewart and Chatham Islands. Also Australia and New Caledonia. Common from North Cape south to the Bay of Plenty, local south of here until Wellington where it is common. Locally common in North-West Nelson, otherwise scarce in the South Island. Abundant on Rekohu (Chatham Island).
Habitat
Coastal to lower montane. Usually in open ground (especially in gumland and pakihi), on clay pans, under light scrub and on the margins of bogs and swamps.
Wetland plant indicator status rating
Information derived from the revised national wetland plant list prepared to assist councils in delineating and monitoring wetlands (Clarkson et al., 2021 Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research Contract Report LC3975 for Hawke’s Bay Regional Council). The national plant list categorises plants by the extent to which they are found in wetlands and not ‘drylands’. The indicator status ratings are OBL (obligate wetland), FACW (facultative wetland), FAC (facultative), FACU (facultative upland), and UPL (obligate upland). If you have suggestions for the Wetland Indicator Status Rating, please contact: [Enable JavaScript to view protected content]
FAC: Facultative
Commonly occurs as either a hydrophyte or non-hydrophyte (non-wetlands).
Features
Terrestrial, tufted fern. Rhizome short- to long-creeping, c.0.6-1.0 mm diameter; scales to 2 mm long, golden brown. Fronds dimorphic. Stipes widely spaced 20-260 mm long in fertile fronds, shorter in sterile fronds, red-brown, purplish black or black. lamina 50-250 × 5-15 mm long in fertile fronds shorter in sterile fronds, 1-pinnate, linear. Pinnules sessile to shortly stalked. gradually reduced towards apex. often more distant towards base. Sterile pinnules flabellate (asymmetrical of not) to diamond-shaped, to 6-10 × 3-6 mm wide, herbaceous; outer margin crenate or more deeply incised. Fertile pinnules flabellate to broadly cuneate, 3-5 × 4-7 mm, herbaceous to coriaceous; outer margin uneven. Veins free, 2-4× forked. Sori usually continuous; indusium 0.7-1.0 mm wide, not extending to margin, pale greenish, often strongly reflexed. Spores pale brown, smooth. Description from Kramer & McCarthy (1998).
Similar taxa
Easily distinguished for other Lindsaea species by the red-brown, purple-black to black stipes; dimorphic sterile/fertile narrowly pinnate fronds (the fertile fronds are typically erect and the sterile ones prostrate); and by the flabellate (fan-shaped) pinnae.
Flowering
N.A. - Spore producing
Flower colours
No flowers
Fruiting
N.A. - Spore producing
Propagation technique
Difficult - should not be removed from the wild
Etymology
lindsaea: Named after John Lindsay, 19th century British surgeon who discovered fern spore
linearis: Linear (leaves)
Where To Buy
Not commercially available
Attribution
Fact sheet prepared for NZPCN by: P.J. de Lange (Updated 4 May 2011)
References and further reading
Kramer, K.U.; McCarthy, P.M. 1998: Lindsaeaceae. Flora of Australia 48: 228-240.
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Lindsaea linearis Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/lindsaea-linearis/ (Date website was queried)