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NZ Plants

Sticherus flabellatus

Tangle and umbrella fern family: Gleicheniaceae

  • The frond stalk (rachis) terminates in a bud with many forked frond branches

    L Jensen

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  • Growth of the terminal bud will form an extension of the rachis

    L Jensen

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  • Succisive growth of buds creates a frond with many branches

    L Jensen

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  • Frond upper surface, midrib and leaflets

    L Jensen

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  • Leaflets, upper surface

    L Jensen

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  • Leaflet midrib with hairs

    L Jensen

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  • Leaflets, lower surface

    L Jensen

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  • Leaflets lower surface, midrib with branched hairs

    L Jensen

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  • Midrib with branched hair

    L Jensen

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  • Fertile frond, lower surface with sori

    L Jensen

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  • Fertile leaflets lower surface, sori

    L Jensen

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  • Sori with unopened sporangia

    L Jensen

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Sticherus flabellatus is a terrestrial fern with long-creeping scaly rhizomes bearing distinctive umbrella-like fronds. The frond stalk (stipe) terminates in a bud and the frond midrib (rachis) forks 3-4 times at narrow angles with a bud between the new pair of branches. The bud at the end of the stipe will grow into another extension of the frond to form a new tier of leaflet-bearing branches . Ultimate leaflets are flat and not pouched and sporangia are in groups of 4-5 .
Found in coastal to montane areas in the North Island to lowland areas on the South Island.

Vegetative characteristics

Fertile frond and sporangia

Plant form: creeping rhizome with branching fronds up to 1.4 m tall

Frond appearance: similar to sterile frond

Frond stalk, midrib:  

Sporangium location: on lower frond surface

Frond shape: ultimate branches linear

Sporangium position: away from margin

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

Sporangia distribution: in groups (sori) each consisting of 4-5 sporangia

Frond surface: leathery, hairs, some scales

Sorus shape: circular

Leaflets: linear, pointed-tip; attached along base (adnate)

Sorus covering: 0

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