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NZ Plants
Asplenium polyodon - petako, sickle spleenwort
Spleenwort family: Aspleniaceae
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Plant attached to tree trunk
L Jensen
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Frond
I MacDonald
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Young frond upper surface, midrib (rachis) with leaflets
I MacDonald
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Young leaflet, upper surface with scales
L Jensen
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Rachis of young frond with scales
L Jensen
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Rachis of young frond, small and large scales
L Jensen
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Young frond lower surface, rachis with leaflets
I MacDonald
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Young leaflet, lower surface with scales
L Jensen
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Young leaflet, small scales detail
L Jensen
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Young leaflet, large scales detail
L Jensen
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Fertile leaflet, lower surface with sori
L Jensen
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Leaflet lower surface, sori with indusium covering
L Jensen
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Asplenium polyodon has a short creeping stem (rhizome) preferring trunks of trees where it forms long arching fronds with jagged-edged leaflets.
Found throughout the North Island and off shore islands to western areas of the South Island.
Vegetative characteristics |
Fertile frond and sporangia |
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Plant form: short, erect rhizome with fronds up to 500 mm in length (sometimes more) |
Frond appearance: similar to sterile frond |
Frond stalk, midrib: scales narrowly triangular with a filamentous tip |
Sporangium location: on lower frond surface |
Frond shape: narrowly elliptic |
Sporangium position: radiating along veins |
Frond blade: pinnate (divided 1 x into leaflets or pinnae) |
Sporangia distribution: in groups (sori) |
Frond surface: glossy, leathery, hairless |
Sorus shape: linear, curved away from midrib |
Leaflets: narrow-ovate and finely tapering, margins doubly toothed |
Sorus covering: linear, covering (indusium) opening toward midrib |
