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NZ Plants

Dicranopteris linearis

Tangle and umbrella fern family: Gleicheniaceae

Dicranopteris linearis is a terrestrial fern with long-creeping rhizomes. The frond midrib (rachis) forks at narrow angles producing a bud at the end of the old rachis between the two new branch rachises. This bud can subsequently grow out to form a new tier of frond branches and the process can be repeated many times forming tangled thickets of fronds. Ultimate leaflets are flat and sporangia are in groups of 6-10.
Found in the central North Island around thermal springs.
 

Vegetative characteristics

Fertile frond and sporangia

Plant form: creeping rhizome with branching fronds up to 0.5 m tall

Frond appearance: similar to sterile frond

Frond stalk, midrib: branched hairs on midrib

Sporangium location: on lower frond surface

Frond shape: ultimate branches narrowly elliptic

Sporangium position: to either side of vein

Frond blade: ultimate branches pinnate (divided 1x into leaflets or pinnae)

Sporangia distribution: in groups (sori) each consisting of 6-10 sporangia

Frond surface: irregularly branched hairs

Sorus shape: circular

Leaflets: linear, notched at tip

Sorus covering: 0

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