Loxogramme dictyopteris
Common names
lance fern, whare ngārara
Biostatus
Native
Category
Vascular
Structural class
Ferns
Detailed description
Epiphytic, rupestral or terricolous fern forming leafy patches over substratum. Rhizomes tufted, scaly, producing numerous creeping, proliferous roots; these producing new plants at intervals. Fronds undivided, subcoriaceous, 70–300 × 7–23 mm, adaxially dark green to bright green above, abaxially paler, narrowly elliptic (rarely broadly so to almost rhomboidal), tapering to an acute apex, base narrowly cuneate extending as an indistinct stipe wing; midrib prominent, veins inconspicuous, reticulate. Sori oval, prominent, abaxially sunken, thereby forming a prominent bulge on the adaxial laminal surface, in one row either side of midrib set away from pinna margins, indusia absent. Spores orange-brown.
Similar taxa
Easily recognised by the proliferous roots, such that this species usually covers much of the surrounding substratum in a mass of simple, subcoriaceous, dark green to bright green fronds. The prominent, oval, abaxially sunken sori are also characteristic of this species.
Distribution
Endemic. New Zealand: North Island (widespread except for the central volcanic plateau and adjacent axial ranges), South Island (common in the north to Greymouth and Banks Peninsula), Chatham Islands (scarce, reaching its national southern limit at Canister Cove, Pitt Island (Rangiauria).
Habitat
Coastal to montane but mostly in coastal and lowland areas. Loxogramme seems to be most abundant in regions where base rich rocks such as basalt, limestone and calcareous sandstones and mudstones are exposed, in these sites it often forms luxuriant carpets on shaded rock outcrops. However, Loxogramme is not tied to base rich rocks and is sometimes nearly as common on rhyolite and ignimbrite exposures. It is also a common low epiphyte on trees, especially in alluvial 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.
Please note, threat classifications are often suggested by authors when publications fall between NZTCS assessment periods – these interim threat classification statuses has not been assessed by the NZTCS panel.
- 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
Polypodiaceae
Synonyms
Polypodium cunninghamii Hook.; Polypodium dictyopteris Mett.; Dictyopteris lanceolata J.Sm.; Anarthropteris lanceolata (Hook. f.) Pic.Serm.; Polypodium attenuatum sensu A.Rich.; Anarthropteris dictyopteris (Mett.) Copel.; Anarthropteris lanceolata (J.Sm.) L.B.Moore in Allan; Dictymia lanceolata J.Sm. ex Hook.f.
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
Yes
Endemic family
No
Ecology
Life cycle
Minute spores are wind dispersed (Thorsen et al., 2009).
Propagation technique
Although it can be cultivated Loxogramme is often difficult to maintain. Its does best in shaded, permanently damp (but not waterlogged) conditions, planted in a rich, free draining soil enriched with lime and humus.
Other information
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.
LOXDIC
Chromosome number
2n = 74
Previous conservation statuses
2017 | Not Threatened
2012 | Not Threatened
2009 | Not Threatened
2004 | 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 (13 January 2012). Description adapted from Brownsey & Smith-Dodsworth (2000)
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Loxogramme dictyopteris Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/loxogramme-dictyopteris/ (Date website was queried)