Asplenium cimmeriorum
Common name
cave spleenwort
Synonyms
None
Family
Aspleniaceae
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.
ASPCIM
Chromosome number
2n = 288
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) – more information about this can be found on the NZTCS website. This report includes a statistical summary and brief notes on changes since 2012 and replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants.
Please note, threat classifications are often suggested by authors when publications fall between NZTCS assessment periods – an interim threat classification status has not been assessed by the NZTCS panel.
- Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017 . 2018. 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. Department of Conservation. Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
2017 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: DP, RR, Sp
Previous conservation statuses
2012 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: RR, Sp
2009 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon
2004 | Sparse
Distribution
Endemic. New Zealand: North Island (cave entrances and limestone areas in the Waitomo area), South Island (more common in the west, where it has been recorded from Karamea south to Punakaiki).
Habitat
Primarily confined to heavily shaded, calcareous rocks in high rainfall areas, especially cave entrances and archways. Often found underneath other ferns such as Austroblechnum lanceolatum (R.Br.) Gasper et V.A.O.Dittrich.
Detailed description
Shortly-creeping, rhizomatous fern. Rhizomes up to 60 mm long, densely invested in blackish-brown scales, up to 10 × 4 mm. Stipes 25–130 mm long; stipes and rachises green, straw-coloured or blue-green, covered in subulate scales up to 25 × 1 mm. Laminae narrowly triangular or narrowly ovate, sometimes triangular or ovate, 2–3-pinnate, 35–220 × 15–70 mm, thin, dark green or blue-green, bearing scattered scales. Primary pinnae in 4–14–(17) pairs, 10–40 × 5–17 mm. Secondary pinnae linear or elliptic, the lower ones divided. Sori 1.5–3 mm long, extending along the ultimate segments, 1.5–3 mm long, margins of indusia entire.
Similar taxa
It can be distinguished from Asplenium bulbiferum by its smaller size, shortly creeping rhizomes, narrowly triangular fronds and lack of bulbils. From A. gracillimum it differs by its small size, and shortly creeping rhizomes.
Propagation technique
Difficult. Can be grown from spores which taken anywhere from 16—26 months to produce sporophytes. Rather slow growing. Does best in a pot in semi-shade. It is very prone to scale and mealy bug attack.
Threats
Probably more common than was believed when it was formally described in 1997. However it does seem to have a naturally sporadic distribution, particularly in the North Island, where forested, undisturbed entrances to caves are less common.
Etymology
asplenium: From the Greek a- ‘without’ and splene ‘spleen’, a northern hemisphere species, the black spleenwort (Asplenium adiantum-nigrum), was once believed to be a cure for diseases of the spleen.
Taxonomic Notes
North and South Island populations based on analysis of chloroplast sequences appear to have independent hybrid origins. Further research is needed to determine whether taxonomic distinction can be made.
Attribution
Fact sheet prepared for NZPCN by P.J. de Lange 28 October 2005. Description adapted from Brownsey & de Lange (1997).
References and further reading
Brownsey PJ, de Lange PJ. 1997. Asplenium cimmeriorum, a new fern species from New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 35(3): 283–292. https://doi.org/10.1080/0028825X.1997.10410154.
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Asplenium cimmeriorum Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/asplenium-cimmeriorum/ (Date website was queried)