Hymenophyllum falklandicum
Synonyms
None
Family
Hymenophyllaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Native
Endemic taxon
No
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Structural class
Ferns
Current conservation status
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2017 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS) – more information about this can be found on the NZTCS website. This report includes a statistical summary and brief notes on changes since 2012 and replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants.
Please note, threat classifications are often suggested by authors when publications fall between NZTCS assessment periods – an interim threat classification status has not been assessed by the NZTCS panel.
- Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017 . 2018. Peter J. de Lange, Jeremy R. Rolfe, John W. Barkla, Shannel P. Courtney, Paul D. Champion, Leon R. Perrie, Sarah M. Beadel, Kerry A. Ford, Ilse Breitwieser, Ines Schönberger, Rowan Hindmarsh-Walls, Peter B. Heenan and Kate Ladley. Department of Conservation. Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
2009 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: RR
Previous conservation status
2004 | Range Restricted
Distribution
In New Zealand confined to Macquarie Island, present also in southern South America (Chile and western Argentina), the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and Juan Fernandez islands.
Habitat
On Macquarie Island known only from feldmark communities
Detailed description
Terrestrial fern form ing small patches on banks and rocks. Rhizome dark brown, slender, creeping, finely and extensively branching, glabrous, bearing numerous widely spaced (20–40 mm apart) fronds. Stipe near half of frond length, slender, without wing, dark brown, wiry; rachis similar, upper portion very narrowly winged. Fronds bipinnate, 10–20 × 5–7 mm, broadly oblong, membranous; pinnae 10–15, asymetrically divided with secondary pinnae confiend to apical side; secondary pinnae oblong, truncate, sharply serrated. Sori confined to frond apices, 0.65–0.7 mm wide; solitary, inserted on a short segment near base of pinna, brown when mature, indusium elliptic to ovate, deeply bifid, slightly wider that subtending pinnule segment.
Similar taxa
Has been confused with Hymenophyllum peltatum (Poir.) Desv., from which it differs by its over all smaller size, solitary sori, 1–2 rather than 3–5, secondary pinnae, and by the rachis wings restricted to the frond section between the ultimate 2 or 3 pinnae, rather than, as is seen in H. peltatum the wing extending for the full length of the rachis.
Propagation technique
Unknown.
Threats
None known. Confined in the New Zealand Botanical Region to Macquarie Island, where it is locally common.
Etymology
hymenophyllum: Membranous leaf, from the Greek humen and phullon
Where To Buy
Not commercially available
Cultural Use/Importance
This species is included in the NZPCN Fact Sheets because Macquarie Island is part of the New Zealand Botanical Region. However, Macquarie Island is part of the Australian Territory, and so its administration lies with that nation.
Attribution
Fact Sheet prepared for NZPCN by P.J. de Lange 1 November 2008. Description based on herbarium specimens.
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Hymenophyllum falklandicum Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/hymenophyllum-falklandicum/ (Date website was queried)