Tmesipteris lanceolata
Common name
fork fern
Synonyms
Tmesipteris forsteri sensu A.Cunn. nom. inv., Tmesipteris tannensis sensu Sahni nom. inv., Tmesipteris tannensis var. lanceolata (P.A.Dang.) Domin
Family
Psilotaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Native
Endemic taxon
No
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.
TMELAN
Chromosome number
2n = 208
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
Indigenous. New Zealand: Kermadec Islands (Raoul Island) North and Chatham Islands. In the North Island present from Te Paki to about Gisborne and Tataraimaka on the Egmont Coast. Also present in Australia (Queensland - scarce) and New Caledonia
Habitat
Coastal to montane, though mostly lowland. Epiphytic, mostly on tree ferns (especially Cyathea spp.), very rarely on tree trunks.
Features
Rhizomatous, rhizome brittle, dichotomously branched, 1-2 mm diameter, covered with dark brown rhizoids. Aerial shoot: simple, pendulous, 40-200 mm long; sporophylls spirally arranged, leaves distichously arranged, terminating in a large appendage slightly shorter, equal to, or longer than the largest leaves developed. Leaves subcoriaceous to coriaceous, margin often thickened; dorsiventral, upper surface shiny or glossy deep green or pale green, lower surface dull green covered with stomata; shape ovate to ovate-oblong, apex acute or sometimes ± obtuse, mucro short, thick, 1.0-1.5 mm long; 6-25 × 2-8 mm broad. Sporophylls 3-6 per 10 mm of stem usually restricted to the lower ½ of the shoot although in small specimens they may occur throughout. Synangium small 2-4 × 1-2 mm; lobes equal or the proximal one slightly smaller ± globular, yellowish brown at maturity, persistent. Spores pale yellow released in a mass, anisopolar, bilateral, monolete, foveolate, concavo-convex, 50-72 × 17-30 microns.
Similar taxa
Distinguished from the three other named fork ferns by the combination of: 1. testiculate synangia, 2. sterile leaves distichously arranged, 3. Leaves ovate to ovate-oblong, coriaceous, apex acute and 4. sporophylls restricted to the lower half of the shoot.
Flowering
Not applicable - spore producing
Flower colours
No flowers
Fruiting
Not applicable - spore producing
Propagation technique
Difficult - should not be removed from the wild.
Etymology
tmesipteris: From the Greek tmesis (cutting) and pteris (fern), alluding to the forked appendages on fertile fronds
lanceolata: Lance-shaped
Where To Buy
Not commercially available
Attribution
Fact sheet prepared for NZPCN by P.J. de Lange (June 2009). Description adapted from Chinnock (1975).
References and further reading
Chinnock, R.J. 1975: The New Zealand species of Tmesipteris (Psilotaceae). New Zealand Journal of Botany 13: 743-768
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Tmesipteris lanceolata Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/tmesipteris-lanceolata/ (Date website was queried)