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NZ Plants

Lindsaea linearis

Family: Lindsaeaceae

  • Plants with erect fertile fronds and prostrate sterile fronds

    L Jensen

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  • Fertile frond (left) and sterile frond (right)

    I MacDonald

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  • Sterile frond upper surface, midrib (rachis) with leaflets

    L Jensen

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  • Leaflet upper surface, hairs

    L Jensen

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  • Fertile frond upper surface, rachis with leaflets

    I MacDonald

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  • Fertile leaflet, upper surface

    L Jensen

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  • Fertile frond lower surface, rachis with leaflets

    L Jensen

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  • Fertile leaflet lower surface, marginal sori beneath linear indusium covering

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Lindsaea linearis is a terrestrial fern with a creeping stem (rhizome) bearing narrow light green fronds with fan-shaped leaflets. The sterile fronds are often sprawling and prostrate while the fertile fronds are erect and with smaller leaflets.

Found throughout New Zealand on low-nutrient clay sites although absent from central North Island and locally in coastal regions of the South Island in clearings and roadsides.

Vegetative characteristics

Fertile frond and sporangia

Plant form: creeping rhizome with fronds up to 50 cm in length

Frond appearance: erect with smaller leaflets curled downward at deeply incised margins

Frond stalk, midrib: dark red-brown

Sporangium location: lower frond surface

Frond shape: linear

Sporangium position: leaflet margin

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

Sporangia distribution: in groups (sori)

Frond surface: leathery

Sorus shape: linear (continuous)

Leaflets: fan-shaped   

Sorus covering: reflexed marginal flap opening towards leaflet margin

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