Species

Anogramma leptophylla

Etymology

Anogramma: From the Greek ano 'upward' or 'above' and gramma 'lined' or 'written', referring to the sori maturing first near the tips
leptophylla: slender leaf

Common Name(s)

Jersey fern, Annual fern

Current Conservation Status

2012 - Threatened - Nationally Vulnerable

Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2012 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS). This report includes a statistical summary and brief notes on changes since 2009 and replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Authors: Peter J. de Lange, Jeremy R. Rolfe, Paul D. Champion, Shannel P. Courtney, Peter B. Heenan, John W. Barkla, Ewen K. Cameron, David A. Norton and Rodney A. Hitchmough. File size: 792KB

Previous Conservation Status

2009 - Threatened - Nationally Vulnerable
2004 - Gradual Decline

Qualifiers

2012 - EF, RR, SO, Sp
2009 - SO, EF, RR, Sp

Authority

Anogramma leptophylla (L.) Link

Family

Pteridaceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

NVS Species Code

ANOLEP

The National Vegetation Survey (NVS) Databank is a physical archive and electronic databank containing records of over 94,000 vegetation survey plots - including data from over 19,000 permanent plots. NVS maintains a standard set of species code abbreviations that correspond to standard scientific plant names from the Ngä Tipu o Aotearoa - New Zealand Plants database.

Structural Class

Ferns

Synonyms

Polypodium leptophyllum L., Grammitis leptophylla Swartz, Gymnogramme leptophylla Desv., Gymnogramme novae-zelandiae Colenso; Osmunda leptophylla (L.) Savigny in Lam.; Hemionitis leptophylla (L.) Lag.; Acrostichum leptophyllum (L.) Lam. et DC.; Asplenium leptophyllum (L.) Sw.; Grammitis leptophylla (L.) Sw.

Distribution

Indigenous. In New Zealand known from Northland to Southland - easterly in its distribution. Also known from Australia, South America, Africa, India and Europe.

Habitat

Clay banks, rock faces and alluvial banks.

Features

Dimunitive, tufted, winter dormant, early spring to mid summer-green fern, which dries off by mid to late summer, appearing dead. Rhizomes small, hairy. Stipes red-brown, glabrous. Fronds 10-60 mm long, ovate or narrowly ovate, 2-3-pinnate, 8-50 x 7-30 mm, pale green or yellow-green, somewhat membraneous and delicate, glabrous. Sterile fronds smaller than fertile, appearing first. Ultimate frond divisions fan-shaped and deeply notched. Sori near tips of pinnae, one per segment.

Similar Taxa

None

Flowering

Not applicable - spore producing

Flower Colours

No Flowers

Fruiting

Not applicable - spore producing

Propagation Technique

Difficult and should not be removed from the wild.

Threats

This species is mainly threatened through habitat loss through competition from weeds, and by the removal of surrounding vegetation.

Chromosome No.

2n = 52, 58

Endemic Taxon

No

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

Where To Buy

Not commercially available.

Fact Sheet Citation

Please cite as:  de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of Access): Anogramma leptophylla Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. hhttp://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora_details.aspx?ID=147 (Date website was queried)

Attribution

Fact Sheet Prepared for NZPCN by: P.J. de Lange (17 April 2011). Description adapted from Brownsey & Smith-Dodsworth.

References and further reading

Moss, T. 1988. The Anogramma-Targionia association. Wellington Botanical Society Bulletin, 44: 16-18

Brownsey, P.J.; Smith-Dodsworth, J.C. 2000: New Zealand Ferns and Allied Plants. Auckland, David Bateman

This page last updated on 2 Mar 2017