Paesia scaberula
Common name
lace fern, ring fern, scented fern, pig fern
Synonyms
Pteris scaberula A.Rich., Allosorus scaberulus (A.Rich.) C.Presl, Ornithopteris scaberula (A.Rich.) J.Sm., Pteris microphylla A.Cunn.
Family
Dennstaedtiaceae
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.
PAESCA
Chromosome number
2n = 52
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). This report includes a statistical summary and brief notes on changes since 2012 and replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Authors: By 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.
2012 | Not Threatened
Previous conservation statuses
2009 | Not Threatened
2004 | Not Threatened
Distribution
Endemic. New Zealand: Three Kings, North, South, Stewart and Chatham Islands.
Habitat
Coastal to montane. An often common fern of open or distrubed ground, rough pasture, grassland or reverting farmland - where it often is considered a serious pest.
Features
Terrestrial ferns. Rhizome long-creeping, much branched, stiff and somewhat brittle, 1–2 mm diameter, chesnut-brown, densely clad in slender red-brown, bristly hairs. Stipes 50–400 × 1–2 mm, stiff, muricate to almost smooth, densely clade in slender, bristly, red-brown hairs (especially near base) and short, glandular, yellow hairs in upper portion. Rhachis strongly to slightly zig-zagged, strongly muricate to smooth. Laminae 2–3–4-pinnate, 100–800 × 50–350 mm, deltoid to ovate or elliptic, stiffly coriaceous to subcoriaceous, adaxially yellow-green to yellow, abaxially, covered by numerous, short, glandular hairs, midirbs bearing bristly red-brown hairs; veins obscure, free. Pinnae finely dissected, primary pinnae shortly stalked, 70–200 × 30–50 mm, ovate to lanceolate, acuminate. Secondary pinnae shortly stalked, up to 25 × 10 mm, lanceolate. Segments decurrent, pinnatisect to almost pinnate, up to 5 × 2 mm, narrow, sharply toothed or incised, often apiculate. Sori usually copious, extending along both margins of segments, but not reaching base or apex. True indusium delicate, often vestigial
Similar taxa
Easily distinguished by the yellow-green to yellow, glandular sticky, finely dissected, fragrant fronds, zig-zagged rachises and elongated marginal sori, protected by an inrolled, scarious lamina on the outside of the ultimate segments and a membranous (sometimes almost vestigial) indusium on the inside of the ultimate segments.
Flowering
Not Applicable - Spore Producing
Flower colours
No flowers
Fruiting
Not Applicable - Spore Producing
Propagation technique
A weedy fern that often self establishes in gardens. Prefers a sunny, open situation and is tolerant of a range of soil types.
Etymology
paesia: After the Portuguese Duke fernando Dias Paes lele, commander in South America in the 17th Century
scaberula: A little roughened; from the Latin scaber, leaves
Attribution
Fact sheet prepared for NZPCN by P.J. de Lange (8 November 2012). Description adapted from Allan (1961) and Brownsey & Smith-Dodsworth (2000).
References and further reading
Allan, H.H. 1961: Flora of New Zealand. Vol. I. Wellington, Goverment Printer.
Brownsey, P.J.; Smith-Dodsworth, J.C. 2000: New Zealand Ferns and Allied Plants. Auckland, David Bateman.
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Paesia scaberula Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/paesia-scaberula/ (Date website was queried)