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NZ Plants


Asplenium oblongifolium - huruhuruwhenua, shining spleenwort

Spleenwort family: Aspleniaceae

Asplenium oblongifolium has stout stems that often form thick woody masses above ground. It is a large fern with very glossy green pinnae that taper to a tip with a conspicuous herringbone pattern of sori on their lower surface.
An endemic species widely distributed in lowland to subalpine areas throughout New Zealand.

Vegetative characteristics

Fertile frond and sporangia

Plant form: stout stems bearing fronds up to 1 m

Frond appearance: similar to sterile frond

Frond stalk, midrib: scales narrow with long thread-like tips

Sporangium location: on lower frond surface

Frond shape: oblong to elliptic

Sporangium position: in parallel rows to either side of leaflet midrib

Frond blade: pinnate (divided 1x into leaflets or pinnae)

Sporangia distribution: in groups (sori)

Frond surface: glossy, hairless

Sorus shape: linear

Leaflets: oblong to lanceolate, tapering tip, toothed margins

Sorus covering: linear covering (indusium)  opening toward midrib