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NZ Plants
Histiopteris incisa - mata, water fern
Family: Dennstaedtiaceae
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Frond
I MacDonald
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Frond stalk (stipe) with scales
L Jensen
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Frond rachis (left) upper surface, leaflets with smooth margins
L Jensen
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Frond upper surface, with lobed margins on leaflets
L Jensen
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Primary leaflet upper surface, midribe with bases of secondary leaflets
L Jensen
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Leaflet margin, upper surface
L Jensen
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Leaflet margin, lower surface
L Jensen
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Fertile frond lower surface, rachis with leaflelts
L Jensen
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Fertile leaflet, upper surface
L Jensen
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Fertile leaflet, lower surface with marginal sori
L Jensen
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Histiopteris incisa is a tall bracken-like fern with a long-ceeping horizontal stem (rhizome). The young fronds are hairless and have distinctive bluish-green colour, turning to red-brown with age. The lowermost pair of secondary leaflets commonly overlap the main frond axis (rachis). Sori are in a continuous band protected by an inrolled leaflet margin.
Found throughout New Zealand in clearings and roadsides.
Vegetative characteristics |
Fertile frond and sporangia |
|---|---|
Plant form: creeping rhizome with fronds up to 2 m in length |
Frond appearance: similar to sterile fronds |
Frond stalk, midrib: lacking hairs, scales |
Sporangium location: lower frond surface |
Frond shape: oval |
Sporangium position: leaflet margin |
Frond blade: 3-pinnate (divided 3 x into leaflets or pinnae) |
Sporangia distribution: in groups (sori) |
Frond surface: lacking hairs, scales |
Sorus shape: linear (continuous) |
Leaflets: rounded at tip with broad base, veins usually joined (netted) |
Sorus covering: reflexed marginal flap |
