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NZ Plants
Leptolepia novae-zelandiae
Family: Dennstaedtiaceae
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Frond
I MacDonald
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Frond stalk (stipe) with hairs
L Jensen
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Frond upper surface, midrib (rachis) with leaflets
L Jensen
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Mature frond, rachis
L Jensen
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Mature frond, rachis hairs
L Jensen
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Young frond, rachis hairs
L Jensen
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Leaflets upper surface
L Jensen
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Leaflets lower surface with sori
L Jensen
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Leaflets lower surface with sori
L Jensen
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Sorus with marginal flap and indusium covering
L Jensen
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Leptolepia novae-zelandiae is distinctive for its large, broad-oval, hairy fronds which are delicately divided into a distinct lace-like pattern. Frond stipe (stalk) and rachis (midrib) is reddish to brown.
An endemic fern found throughout New Zealand in cool, damp forest.
Vegetative characteristics |
Fertile frond and sporangia |
|---|---|
Plant form: creeping rhizome with fronds up to 1 m in length |
Frond appearance: similar to sterile fronds |
Frond stalk, midrib: red-brown, scattered hairs |
Sporangium location: lower frond surface |
Frond shape: broadly ovate |
Sporangium position: leaflet margin |
Frond blade: 3-4-pinnate (divided up to 4x into leaflets or pinnae) |
Sporangia distribution: in groups (sori) |
Frond surface: sparsely hairy |
Sorus shape: round to oval |
Leaflets: narrowly elliptic and sharply pointed |
Sorus covering: reflexed leaflet margin on the outer side and a flap on the inner side. |
