| Zealandia pustulata | |
|---|---|
| |
| In Upper Hutt beech forest, New Zealand. | |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Division: | Polypodiophyta |
| Class: | Polypodiopsida |
| Order: | Polypodiales |
| Suborder: | Polypodiineae |
| Family: | Polypodiaceae |
| Genus: | Zealandia |
| Species: | Z. pustulata
|
| Binomial name | |
| Zealandia pustulata | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
|
Synonymy
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Zealandia pustulata is a species of fern native to eastern Australia and New Zealand.[2] It is commonly referred to as kangaroo fern because of its mature leaves tend to resemble the shape of a kangaroo foot. It is also referred to as hound's tongue, and as kōwaowao and pāraharaha in Māori.[3]
Description
This epiphytic fern species seems to climb onto suitable substrates (fallen logs, rocks, growing plants etc.) via long, creeping grey-green rhizomes. The rhizomes have clathrate, ovate scales which are 3-7 mm long and 1-2 mm wide. Generally, the species exhibits 1-9 pairs of lobed, glossy-green fronds which are erect to pendant and can range from 5-50 cm in length. The texture of the fronds is leathery, and they have thick, wavy margins. They have distinct, relatively large (approximately 3-4 mm wide) circular sori on their abaxial surface. The spores themselves are 45–62.5 µm long, 20–32.5 µm wide, pale, with wart-like protuberances.[4] The species can grow to a maximum height of approximately 30 cm and a maximum width of approximately 120 cm.
Distribution and habitat
Zealandia pustulata ranges from southeastern Queensland through New South Wales to Victoria on the Australian mainland, and to Tasmania, Lord Howe Island, Norfolk Island, New Zealand's North and South islands, and the Chatham, Kermadec, and Antipodes islands.[2]
Zealandia pustulata is widespread and commonly described as both a lithophyte and epiphyte. They are evident across a range of Wet Sclerophyll Forest, Rainforest and more open Subalpine environments[5] with preferred growing conditions being in ferneries or gullies with partial to full shade.[6] The species are described as middle storey species, but are evident anywhere from forest floors to canopies.[7]
There are two subspecies. Zealandia pustulata subsp. pustulata is present across the species' range.[2] Zealandia pustulata subsp. howensis is endemic to Lord Howe Island.[8][2]
Naming and classification
The species was first named Polypodium pustulatum by botanist Georg Forster in 1786.[9] Edwin Copeland published the name Microsorum pustulatum in Genera Filicum Copeland, E.B. (1947). The name was derived from the species' characteristic small, blistered (risen) sori on its abaxial surface (micro = small, sorum = from sori, pustulatum= blistered).[10] In 2019 the species was renamed Zealandia pustulata by Testo & A.R.Field, which is accepted by Plants of the World Online. The species and its subspecies are known by numerous other synonyms.[2]
See also
- Phlebodium aureum, similar looking fern
- Microsorum punctatum, another similar looking species
References
- ^ Hassler, Michael & Schmitt, Bernd (January 2020). "Zealandia pustulata". Checklist of Ferns and Lycophytes of the World. Version 8.20. Retrieved 2020-02-11.
- ^ a b c d e f Zealandia pustulata (G.Forst.) Testo & A.R.Field. Plants of the World Online. Accessed 16 April 2023.
- ^ Large MF, Braggins JE, Green PS (1992). "A new combination for Polypodium pustulatum Forster f. (Polypodiaceae)". New Zealand Journal of Botany. 30 (2): 207–208
- ^ Tindale, M.D. 1961: Polypodiaceae. Contributions from the New South Wales Herbarium, Flora Series 210: 24–46
- ^ G. Jordan, 2019.
- ^ Brownlie, G. 1954: Introductory note to cyto-taxonomic studies of New Zealand ferns. Transactions of the Royal Society of New Zealand 82: 665–666. [as Microsorum diversifolium (Willd.) Copel.]
- ^ C. Michael Hogan. 2009. Crown Fern: Blechnum discolor, Globaltwitcher.com, ed. N. Stromberg
- ^ Green, P.S. 1994: Oceanic Islands, 1. Flora of Australia. Vol. 49. Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra. ABRS/CSIRO, Canberra and Melbourne.
- ^ Forster, J.G.A. 1786: Florulae Insularum Australium Prodromus. Dietrich, Göttingen.
- ^ Copeland, E.B. 1947: Genera Filicum. Chronica Botanica Co., Waltham, Mass.
This page was last edited on 2 December 2023, at 08:57