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NZ Plants


Lastreopsis velutina - velvet fern

Family: Dryopteridaceae

Lastreopsis velutina is a terrestrial fern with erect stems bearing dark green, 5-angled fronds  covered with short glandular hairs and long, soft brown hairs giving them a distinctive velvety feel.
An endemic species found in damp lowland or coastal forest throughout New Zealand
 

Vegetative characteristics

Fertile frond and sporangia

Plant form: creeping stems with fronds up to 80 cm in length

Frond appearance: similar to sterile frond

Frond stalk, midrib: flat brown scales; soft brown hairs

Sporangium location: on lower frond surface

Frond shape: oval

Sporangium position: to either side of vein

Frond blade: 3-4-pinnate (divided 3-4x into leaflets or pinnae)

Sporangia distribution: in groups (sori)

Frond surface: numerous soft brown hairs

Sorus shape: circular

Leaflets: stalked, oblong, toothed, pointed at tip

Sorus covering:  kidney-shaped