Polyphlebium colensoi
Common names
bristle fern
Biostatus
Native – Endemic taxon
Category
Vascular
Structural class
Ferns
Detailed description
Colony forming, extensively rhizomatous fern of dark recesses, rock faces and overhangs usually near to or partially immersed in water. Rhizomes long creeping. Stipes 5–30 mm long. Stipe and rachises not winged, dark black, rather wiry and pliant. Frond lamina 30–120 × 10–30 mm, dark green (rarely bright green), narrowly elliptic, 2–3-pinnate. Primary pinnae widely spaced, stalked, finely divided; ultimate segments linear, deeply toothed, with the veins forking 1–2 times per segment. Sori distinctly stalked, usually solitary (sometimes paired) at bases of primary pinnae. Indusia tubular, widened at mouth.
Similar taxa
Could possibly be confused with Polyphlebium endlicherianum which often grows in similar habitats and has a superficially similar frond shape and morphological. However, P. colensoi differs from that species by the absence of a rachis wing, more deeply divided fronds and distinctly stalked indusia.
Distribution
Endemic. North Island (from Mt Karioi (Western Waikato) and Te Moehau (Coromandel Peninsula) south), South Island, Stewart Island/Rakiura, Chatham Islands (known from only one site on Chatham Island (Rēkohu).
Habitat
An uncommon fern that most commonly occurs on wet rock faces, usually within overhangs or beside streams in dark, wet, lowland to montane forest. It may also be found as a low epiphyte in cloud forest, or within holes amongst exposed roots, or on trees rooted over boulder falls. Often associated with Abrodictyum strictum and Hymenophyllum australe.
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
Threats
Not threatened. A naturally uncommon, biologically sparse species which may be abundant in suitable habitats and then absent from other apparently suitable sites nearby.
Detailed taxonomy
Family
Synonyms
Trichomanes colensoi Hook.f., Vandenboschia colensoi (Hook. f.) Copel.,
Taxonomic notes
NZPCN now follows Ebihara et al. (2006) in recognising Polyphlebium as distinct from Trichomanes. Although Brownsey & Perrie (2016) rejected this idea, the generic segregation was adopted by the PPG I (2016) and is now widely followed throughout the world.
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Ecology
Propagation technique
Difficult. Should not be removed from the wild.
Other information
Etymology
colensoi: Named after William Colenso (7 November 1811 - 10 February 1899) who was a Cornish Christian missionary to New Zealand, and also a printer, botanist, explorer and politician.
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.
POLCOL
Chromosome number
2n = 72
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 | Qualifiers: DP
2012 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: Sp
2009 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: DP
2004 | Sparse
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 | At Risk – Regionally Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: DPT, DPS, DPR, Sp
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.
Brownsey PJ, Perrie LR. 2016. Hymenophyllaceae. In: Breitwieser I, Heenan PB, Wilton AD. Flora of New Zealand - Ferns and Lycophytes. Fascicle 15. Manaaki Whenua Press, Lincoln, NZ. https://doi.org/10.7931/B1QP4Z.
Ebihara A, Dubuisson, J-Y, Iwatsuki K, Hennequin S, Ito M. 2006. A taxonomic revision of the Hymenophyllaceae. Blumea 51: 2–57. https://doi.org/10.3767/000651906X622210.
PPG 1: The Pteridophyte Phylogeny Group 2016. A community-derived classification for extant lycophytes and ferns. Journal of Systematics and Evolution 54: 563–603. https://doi.org/10.1111/jse.12229.
Attribution
Fact sheet prepared for NZPCN by P.J. de Lange (July 2007). Description adapted from Brownsey & Smith-Dodsworth (2000).
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Polyphlebium colensoi Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/polyphlebium-colensoi/ (Date website was queried)