Species
Austroblechnum norfolkianum
Common Name(s)
None Known
Current Conservation Status
2012 - At Risk - Naturally Uncommon
Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012
The conservation status of all known New Zealand
vascular plantVascular plant:
A plant that possesses specialised conducting tissue (xylem and phloem). This includes flowering plants, conifers and ferns but excludes mosses, algae, lichens and liverworts.
Taxa:
Taxonomic groups. Used to refer to a group at any level e.g., genus, species or subspecies.
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 - At Risk - Naturally Uncommon
2004 - Sparse
Qualifiers
2012 - TO
2009 - TO
Authority
Austroblechnum norfolkianum (Heward) Gasper et V.A.O.Dittrich
Family
Blechnaceae
Flora Category
Vascular - NativeNative:
Naturally occurring in New Zealand (i.e., not introduced accidentally or deliberately by humans).
BLENOR
The
National Vegetation Survey (NVS) Databank is a physical archive and electronic databank containing records of over 94,000 vegetation
surveySurvey:
Collection of observations on the spatial distribution or presence or absence of species using standardised procedures.
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
Lomaria norfolkiana Heward, Blechnum lanceolatum var. norfolkianum (Heward) Laing, Blechnum norfolkianum (Heward) Maiden nom. superf., nom. illeg., Lomaria acuminata Baker nom. illeg. non Desv. (1811), nec C.Presl. (1825), Spicanta acuminata (Baker) Kuntze, nom. illeg., Blechnum acuminatum (Baker) Maiden nom. illeg. non Fée (1852), nec Sturm (1853); Lomaria attenuata sensu Hook.f.; Blechnum norfolkianum (Heward) C.Chr.
Distribution
Indigenous. Common on Raoul Island (Kermadec Island group) and the Three Kings Islands, otherwise uncommon and sparingly distributed on mainly offshore islands from the Cavallis south to Mayor Island. Known on the Chatham Islands from South East (Rangatira) Island. Also on Norfolk Island where it is now seriously at risk of extinction
Habitat
Strictly Coastal. This species is most frequently seen on the outer Hauraki Gulf offshore islands, and on the more remote Three Kings and Kermadecs. It favours shaded sites, usually in or near petrel colonies, or near penguin trails and nests.
Features
Tufted fern. Rhizomes stout, erect. Covered in old stipeStipe:
The stalk of a frond.
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Elliptic:
Broadest at the middle
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Pinnate:
With leaflets arranged regularly in two rows on either side of a stalk as in a feather; the lamina on a fern is divided into separate pinnae
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Glabrous:
Without or devoid of hairs, smooth.
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Pinnae:
Divisions of a pinnate leaf
Falcate:
Hooked or curved like a sickle.
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Acute:
Pointed or sharp, tapering to a point with straight sides.
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Apices:
Plural of apex. Tip, the point furthest from the point of attachment
Adnate:
Fusion of unlike parts, e.g. stamens fused to petals.
Similar TaxaTaxa:
Taxonomic groups. Used to refer to a group at any level e.g., genus, species or subspecies.
Most often confused with Austroblechnum lanceolatum, from which it is most reliably distinguished by its dark green to bright green, somewhat fleshy fronds, which are never red or pink-tinged, by the distinctly sickle-shaped (falcateFalcate:
Hooked or curved like a sickle.
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Flowering
Not applicable - sporeSpore:
A single-celled reproductive unit similar in function to that of the seed in a flowering plant.
Flower Colours
No Flowers
Fruiting
Not applicable - sporeSpore:
A single-celled reproductive unit similar in function to that of the seed in a flowering plant.
Propagation Technique
Easy from fresh spores. Does best in a sheltered spot planted within free draining, fertile, moist soil. Responds well to frequent mulching with partially rotted leaf litter.
Threats
Not threatened in New Zealand, although close to extinction on Norfolk Island. In New Zealand it has a primarily northern offshore island distribution, and is by and large uncommon except on the Kermadec and Three Kings Islands.
Chromosome No.
2n = c.66
EndemicEndemic:
Unique or confined to a place or region, found naturally nowhere else.
Taxon:
A taxonomic group. Used to refer to a group at any level e.g., genus, species or subspecies.
No
EndemicEndemic:
Unique or confined to a place or region, found naturally nowhere else.
Genus:
A taxonomic rank of closely related forms that is further subdivided in to species (plural = genera). In a scientific name (e.g., Sicyos australis), the first word is the genus, the second the species.
No
EndemicEndemic:
Unique or confined to a place or region, found naturally nowhere else.
No
TAXONOMIC INFORMATION
Perrie et al. (2014) advocated for a broadened circumscription of Blechnaceae whereby a number of genera traditionally recognized as distinct from Blechnum were merged within it. However, this view has not met with universal acceptance (see Gasper et al. 2016) and does not seem to be followed worldwide (PPG 2016). From a New Zealand perspective the decision to merge Doodia in Blechnum, and rejection of Diploblechnum has not been universally accepted either e.g., Wilcox & Warden (2017), and as such it is considered appropriate to follow world opinion and accept the taxonomyTaxonomy:
The process or science of classifying, naming, and describing organisms
Fact Sheet Citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of Access): Austroblechnum norfolkianum Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. http://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora_details.aspx?ID=225 (Date website was queried)
Attribution
Fact Sheet by P.J. de Lange 6 June 2005. Description from Brownsey & Smith-Dodsworth (2000).
References and further reading
Brownsey, P.J.; Smith-Dodsworth, J.C. 2000: New Zealand ferns and allied plants. David Bateman Ltd, Auckland
Gasper, A.L.; de Oliveira Dittrich, V.A.; Smith A.R.; Salino, A. 2016: A classification for Blechnaceae (Polypodiales: Polypodiopsida): New genera, resurrected names, and combinations. Phytotaxa 275: 191–227.
Perrie, L.R.; Wilson, R.K.; Shepherd, L.D.; Ohlsen, D.J.; Batty, E.L.; Brownsey, P.J.; Bayly, M.J. 2014: Molecular phylogenetics and generic taxonomyTaxonomy:
The process or science of classifying, naming, and describing organisms
Taxon:
A taxonomic group. Used to refer to a group at any level e.g., genus, species or subspecies.
PPG 1: The Pteridophyte Phylogeny Group 2016: A community-derived classification for extant lycophytesLycophytes:
Seedless vascular plants that belong to the phylum Lycophyta (characterised by microphylls -primitive leaves found in ancient plants).
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Pyner, T. 2017: A new classification of Blechnum. British Pteridological Society. https://ebps.org.uk/new-classification-blechnum/
Wilcox, M.; Warden, J. 2017: Botany of Hillsborough coast bush reserves, Manukau Harbour, Auckland. Auckland Botanical Society Journal 72: 32-46.
This page last updated on 5 Sep 2017