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NZ Plants
Hymenophyllum multifidum - much-divided filmy fern
Filmy fern family: Hymenophyllaceae
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Creeping stem (rhizome) with fronds and roots
I MacDonald
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Frond
I MacDonald
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Frond upper surface, midrib (rachis) with leaflets
L Jensen
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Frond upper surface, midrib with transparent extensions (wings)
L Jensen
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Leaflets
L Jensen
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Fertile leaflets upper surface, sori from above
L Jensen
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Fertile leaflet, side view, erect sori
L Jensen
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Ferrtile leaflet upper surface, erect sori with lower half of indusium flaps fused together
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Older sorus with sporangia arranged around a central axis (receptacle)
L Jensen
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Hymenophyllum multifidum is terrestrial or epiphytic filmy fern with long-creeping stems (rhizomes) bearing bright green hairless fronds with distinctive large upright sori. An endemic species found in lowland forest to alpine scrub throughout New Zealand.
Vegetative characteristics |
Fertile frond and sporangia |
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Plant form: creeping rhizome with fronds up to 30 cm |
Frond appearance: similar to sterile frond |
Frond stalk, midrib: stalk wiry, hairless sometimes with a wing above; midrib with narrow wing. |
Sporangium location: on terminal ends of leaflets |
Frond shape: elliptic to triangular |
Sporangium position: leaflet margin at 90 degees to plane of frond |
Frond blade: 3-4-pinnate (divided 3-4 times into leaflets or pinnae) |
Sporangia distribution: in groups (sori) |
Frond surface: filmy, translucent |
Sorus shape: indusium flaps smooth-edged or wavy, fused below into a tube |
Leaflets: linear, toothed margin |
Sorus covering: indusium flaps smooth-edged or slightly toothed |