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NZ Plants

Nephrolepis flexuosa-native ladder fern

Family: Lomariopsidaceae

  • Plants

    L Jensen

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  • Stems (runners) form from the parent plant that give rise to new plants

    L Jensen

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  • Frond stalk (stipe) with scales

    L Jensen

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  • Stipe, scales with filamentous bases

    L Jensen

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

    L Jensen

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  • Rachis of mature frond with scales

    L Jensen

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  • Rachis of young frond

    L Jensen

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  • Leaflet upper surface, pores (water-secreting hydathodes) with accumulations of salts

    L Jensen

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  • Leaflet upper surface, lower hydathode exposed, upper hydathode covered with salts (chalk scales)

    L Jensen

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  • Young leaflet wilth developing hydathode pores

    L Jensen

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  • Fertile frond lower surface, rachis with leaflets

    L Jensen

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  • Sori with indusium covering mature sporangia

    L Jensen

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Nephrolepis flexuosa is a terrestrial fern with short, erect stems and lateral stems (runners) that form new plants at their tips.  The almost parallel-sided fronds are yellow green, stiff and erect when young but drooping with age. Often confused with the naturalised and aggressive Nephrolepis cordifolia which differs in having tubers and wider, stouter and more rigid fronds.

Found in thermal areas of the North Island.

 

Vegetative characteristics

Fertile frond and sporangia

  

Plant form: erect stem with fronds up to 65 cm in length

Frond appearance: leaflets are slightly shorter and margins rarely toothed

  

Frond stalk, midrib: pale brown

Sporangium location: lower frond surface

  

Frond shape: linear

Sporangium position: near leaflet margin

  

Frond blade: pinnate (divided 1x into leaflets)

Sporangia distribution: in groups (sori)

  

Frond surface: leathery, with hydathode glands

Sorus shape: circular

  

Leaflets: oblong, smooth to slightly toothed   

Sorus covering: half-moon shaped, attached on one side, opening towards leaflet tip

  

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