Species

Psilotum nudum

Etymology

Psilotum: From Greek psilos 'bare' or 'naked' referring to the apparent nakedness of the stems
nudum: bare

Common Name(s)

whisk fern, skeleton fork fern

Current Conservation Status

2012 - Not Threatened

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 - Not Threatened
2004 - Not Threatened

Authority

Psilotum nudum (L.) P. Beauv.

Family

Psilotaceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

NVS Species Code

PSINUD

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

Distribution

Indigenous. New Zealand: Kermadec Islands (Raoul Island), North Island (North Cape south to the southern shore of Lake Taupo and Tokaanu).

Habitat

Coastal to monatane. In the northern part of its range Psilotum is usually a local component of coastal forest where it grows on the forest floor, in rock piles and on cliff faces. It is also occasionally epiphytic on trees such as pohutukawa (Metrosideros excelsa). On Raoul Island it is an abundant ground cover in the "dry" forest type on that island. In the North Island outside Northland and the Coromandel Peninsula, Psilotum becomes increasingly tied to geothermally active sites where it usually grows on cliff faces and warm soil around fumaroles. In the ignimbrite country north of Lake Taupo, and also along the western shore of Lake Taupo, Psilotum is at times a very common species growing in the joints of columnar ignimbrite. On the western shoreline of Lake Taupo in this type of habitat plants can grow very large, and they may grow right down into the flood-line where they are often associated with Lindsaea viridis. Around Auckland City Psilotum is a very common, though easily overlooked plant of stone walls (especially basalt or concrete retaining walls).

Features

Epiphytic or terrestrial plants. Rhizome branching, short- to long-creeping, usually clumped. Aerial shoots 50-100-200(-900) mm, dark green, green or yellow depending on growing conditions, erect, firm of sometimes flaccid in shaded situations, branched repeatedly in different planes in the upper part. Branches prominently ribbed 3-7×, subterete in cross-section, to 4.5 mm diameter; stomata restricted to furrows between ribs. Sterile leaves 1.0-2.5 mm long, pale yellow (translucent toward apices), restricted to ribs, subspiral, terete. Synangia 1.5-2.0 × 2.0-2.5 mm, yellow, globular, partitioned in 3 segments.

Similar Taxa

A very distinctive species unlike to be confused with any other fern. Psilotum is easily recognised by the almost distinctive broom-like growth habit, with numerous twiggy, coralloid, whip-like branches usually bearing bright yellow, globular synangia (which are always partitioned in 3). Psilotum could be confused with species of broom (Cytisus and Carmichaelia) as these sometimes grow in habitats favoured by Psilotum. They may be distinguished from Psilotum by the presence of trifoliolate leaves, flowers and/or seed capsules, and if sterile by non-rhizomatous growth habit, and the presence of a distinct root system bearing rhizobium nodules.

Flowering

N.A. Spore producing

Flower Colours

No Flowers

Fruiting

N.A. Spore producing

Propagation Technique

Easily grown from rooted pieces. Best grown in a well drained substrate, planted in full sun. Once established very hard and drought tolerant. Psilotum makes an excellent pot plant, a use to which it often put overseas.

Threats

Not Threatened

Chromosome No.

2n = 208

Endemic Taxon

No

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

Where To Buy

Not commercially available.

Attribution

Fact sheet prepared for NZPCN by P.J. de Lange (7 May 2011). Description adapted from Chinnock (1998).

References and further reading

Chinnock, R.J. 1998: Psilotaceae. Flora of Australia 48: 47–53.

This page last updated on 11 Aug 2014