Notogrammitis gunnii
Common names
strapfern
Biostatus
Native
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 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: Sp, DPR, DPS, DPT, SO
Category
Vascular
Structural class
Ferns
Detailed description
Fern, with strap-like fronds. Rhizome long-creeping. Fronds 12–37 × 3–5 mm, leathery (coriaceous). Hairs pale to red-brown, simple 0.2–1.3 mm long; confined to frond undersides, where associated with sori, sometimes on the frond margin, midrib, or sparsely covering frond undersides. Veins no evident in natural or artificial light. Sori rounded to elliptic, 1–4–(7) pairs restricted to distal ⅙–⅔ of frond.
Similar taxa
Allied to Notogrammitis givenii, but differing from that species by the presence of hairs amongst the sori.
Distribution
Indigenous. New Zealand: South Island (confined to old rock lithologies, where it has been sparingly collected from Kahurangi National Park (Iron Hills, Mt Arthur), Fiordland, Waitutu Forest, Eyre and Umbrella Mountains). Also Tasmania.
Habitat
An “old-rock” species of granite, marble, greywacke and schist outcrops or growing in soil lodged amongst boulders derived from these substrates.
Threats
Notogrammitis gunnii was described by Parris (1998—as Grammitis gunnii) from Tasmanian specimens. In that account it was noted that it also occurs in New Zealand. Within its New Zealand range the species is reported from North-west Nelson (Kahurangi National Park) and Fiordland. Virtually nothing is known about this species, and surveys for it to date have been unsuccessful.
Detailed taxonomy
Genus
Family
Synonyms
Grammitis gunnii Parris
Taxonomic notes
The New Zealand species of Grammitis along with Ctenopteris heterophylla and one Australian Grammitis (G. garrettii) one Lord Howe (G. diminuta) and one species endemic to the Moluccas and Indonesian (G. kairatuensis) have traditionally been placed in Grammitis (Parris & Given 1976; Parris 1998). However, these species (with the exception of G. diminuta, G. kairatuensis and G. stenophylla; B.S.Parris pers. comm. to P.J. de Lange January 2011) have been transferred to a new genus, Notogrammitis Parris (Perrie & Parris 2012).
Endemic taxon
No
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Ecology
Life cycle and dispersal
Minute spores are wind dispersed (Thorsen et al., 2009).
Propagation technique
All Notogrammitis species are believed to be difficult (if not impossible) to grow. So while no specific information on the cultivation of N. gunnii is known, there is no reason why it should be any different.
Other information
Etymology
notogrammitis: From the Greek noto- ‘southern’ and gramma ‘line’, referring to this new genus of southern strap ferns which were previously in Grammitis.
gunnii: After Gunn, a Tasmanian plant collector
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 | Data Deficient | Qualifiers: SO
2012 | Data Deficient | Qualifiers: SO
2009 | Data Deficient | Qualifiers: SO
2004 | Data Deficient
Regional conservation statuses
Otago: 2025 | Regionally Data Deficient
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 “Conservation Status of Indigenous Vascular Plants in Otago, 2025” Jarvie S et al. (2025) report.
Referencing and citations
References and further reading
Parris BS. 1998. Grammitidaceae. Flora of Australia 48, Ferns Gymnosperms and allied groups: 450–468. ABRS/CSIRO Victoria, Australia.
Perrie LR, Parris BS. 2012. Chloroplast DNA sequences indicate the grammitid ferns (Polypodiaceae) in New Zealand belong to a single clade, Notogrammitis gen. nov. New Zealand Journal of Botany 50(4): 457–472. https://doi.org/10.1080/0028825X.2012.735247.
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 by P.J. de Lange for NZPCN (1 June 2013)
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Notogrammitis gunnii Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/notogrammitis-gunnii/ (Date website was queried)