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NZ Plants

Trichomanes elongatum - bristle filmy fern

Filmy fern family: Hymenophyllaceae

  • Plant with erect stem

    I MacDonald

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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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  • Frond upper surface, leaflets

    L Jensen

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  • Leaflets upper surface

    L Jensen

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  • Fertile frond lower surface, rachis with leaflets and sori

    L Jensen

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  • Young frond lower surface, sori with tubular indusium

    L Jensen

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  • Sorus, sporangia are attached to a central stalk (receptacle) and then shed as the stalk elongates

    L Jensen

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  • Older frond lower surface, elongated receptacles extend from each sorus

    L Jensen

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  • Older frond lower surface with elongated receptacles

    L Jensen

    View picture

Trichomanes elongatum is terrestrial filmy fern with a short erect stem bearing dark olive- green, hairless fronds with deeply toothed margins. Sporangia on the lower frond surface are attached to a central stalk (receptacle) which elongates at its base. Continued elongation of the receptacle carries sporangia to the mouth of the tubular indusium where they release their spores and are shed. The fully elongated receptacles of older fronds appear as conspicuous brown bristles extending from the lower leaflet surface. Formerly known as Abrodictyum elongatum.

A species found throughout New Zealand favouring dark, damp places.

 

Vegetative characteristics

Fertile frond and sporangia

Plant form: short erect stem with fronds up to 20 cm

Frond appearance: similar to sterile frond

Frond stalk, midrib: stalk hairless, not winged; midrib with narrow wing toward the tip.

Sporangium location:  in notches of leaflets

Frond shape: triangular

Sporangium position: leaflet margin

Frond blade: 3 pinnate (divided 3x into leaflets of pinnae)

Sporangia distribution: in groups (sori)

Frond surface: rough, cartilaginous

Sorus shape: circular with sporangia arranged in many tiers around a central stalk (receptacle)

Leaflets: broad, deeply toothed

Sorus covering: indusium, tubular in shape

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