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NZ Plants

Cheilanthes sieberi subsp. sieberi - rock fern

Family name: Pteridaceae

Cheilanthes sieberi is a terrestrial fern with a short creeping stem (rhizome). Fronds are narrow, rigid and upright, lack scales, have few hairs and are harsh to the touch.
Found in drier, exposed areas in the eastern parts of the North Island from North Cape to the middle of the South Island.
 

Vegetative characteristics

Fertile frond and sporangia

Plant form: tufted stems with fronds up to 45 cm in length

Frond appearance: similar to sterile frond

Frond stalk, midrib: stipe red to brown, slightly scaly at base;

Sporangium location: on lower frond surface

Frond shape:  linear-lanceolate or ovate

Sporangium position: marginal

Frond blade: 2-3-pinnate (divided 2-3x into leaflets or pinnae)

Sporangia distribution: in groups (sori)

Frond surface: smooth

Sorus shape: elongate to continuous around margin

Leaflets: oval to oblong, notched margins; margins often inrolled

Sorus covering: inrolled leaflet margin

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