Species
Asplenium aethiopicum
Etymology
Asplenium: From the Greek a- 'without' and splene 'spleen', a northern hemisphere species, the black spleenwort (Asplenium adiantum-nigrum), was once believed to be a cure for diseases of the spleen.
aethiopicum: Africa (especially South Africa); name derived from Aethiops, an African and son of Vulcan, the Greek God of metalworking and fire
Authority
Asplenium aethiopicum (N.L.Burm.) Becherer
Family
Aspleniaceae
Flora Category
Vascular - Exotic
Structural Class
Ferns
Distribution
Naturalised in New Zealand. Reported from Bay of Islands, Auckland and Christchurch. Uncommon but appears to be increasing around Auckland.
Flower Colours
No Flowers
Endemic Taxon
No
Endemic Genus
No
Endemic Family
No
Year Naturalised
2003
Reason For Introduction
Horticultural
Reproduction
By spores
Dispersal
Wind dispersed
Tolerances
Dislikes damp or wet places. Prefers dry, hot, sunny sites.
Attribution
Fact Sheet prepared for NZPCN by P.J. de Lange (7 March 2005).
This page last updated on 2 Mar 2017