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NZ Plants

Pteris saxatillis-brake fern

Family: Pteridaceae

  • Frond

    I MacDonald

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  • Frond stalk (stipe) with scale

    L Jensen

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  • Frond upper surface, midrib (rachis) with leaflets

    I MacDonald

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  • Frond upper surface, midrib with leaflets

    I MacDonald

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  • Midrib with hairs

    L Jensen

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  • Fertile leaflet, upper surface

    L Jensen

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  • Fertile leaflet, lower surface with marginal sori

    L Jensen

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  • Fertile leaflet with hairs and sori covered by inrolled leaflet margins

    L Jensen

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Pteris saxatillis is a terrestrial fern with a short, erect stem. Fronds are bright green, thin and divided into overlapping leaflets with free (unjoined) veins.

An endemic species, mainly coastal in open areas on the upper half of the North Island and in the nothern portion of the South Island.
 

Vegetative characteristics

Fertile frond and sporangia

Plant form: short erect stems with fronds up to 1 m in length

Frond appearance: fertile leaflets slightly smaller

Frond stalk, midrib: stipe, red-brown

Sporangium location: on lower frond surface

Frond shape: oval

Sporangium position: leaflet margin

Frond blade: divided 3-4 times

Sporangia distribution: in groups (sori)

Frond surface: thin

Sorus shape: linear, continuous

Leaflets: linear, tapering to  a bluntly pointed tip with toothed margins

Sorus covering: inrolled leaflet margin

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