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NZ Plants
Asplenium bulbiferum - pikopiko, hen and chickens fern, manamana, mouki
Spleenwort family: Aspleniaceae
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Frond
L Jensen
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Frond upper surface, midrib (rachis) with leaflets
I MacDonald
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Frond rachis with scales
L Jensen
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Rachis scale detail
L Jensen
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Frond upper surface with plantlets
L Jensen
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Frond upper surface, scales surrounding plantlet bud
L Jensen
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Plantlet bud, formation of first frond
L Jensen
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Plantlet, mature first frond
L Jensen
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Plantlet bud, formation of second frond
L Jensen
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Plantlet, mature second frond
L Jensen
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Sterile frond lower surface, rachis with leaflets
I MacDonald
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Fertile frond lower surface, leaflets with sori
L Jensen
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Leaflets, lower surface with sori
L Jensen
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Asplenium bulbiferum is a terrestrial fern with a short erect stem bearing pale green fronds. A fern easily recognized by the plantlets (bulbils) that form on the upper surface of some fronds. When the frond ages and touches the soil, the plantlets take root and grow into new plants.
Found in moist lowland forest throughout New Zealand.
Vegetative characteristics |
Fertile frond and sporangia |
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Plant form: short, erect rhizome with fronds up to 1 m in length |
Frond appearance: similar to sterile frond |
Frond stalk, midrib: oval to triangular light brown scales |
Sporangium location: on lower frond surface |
Frond shape: elliptic to lanceolate |
Sporangium position: close to leaflet margin |
Frond blade: 2-3-pinnate (divided up to 3x into leaflets or pinnae) |
Sporangia distribution: in groups (sori) |
Frond surface: glossy, leathery |
Sorus shape: linear |
Leaflets: elliptic to ovate, pointed at the tip, deeply toothed and attached by a short stalk or along their base |
Sorus covering: linear covering (indusium) opening toward midrib |
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