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NZ Plants

Hymenophyllum malingii

Filmy fern family: Hymenophyllaceae

  • Plants growing on trunk of mt.cedar (Lebocedrus bidwillii)

    L Jensen

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  • Creeping stem (rhizome) with frond

    I MacDonald

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  • Frond

    L Jensen

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  • Frond stalk (stipe)

    L Jensen

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  • Stipe, detail of stellate hair

    L Jensen

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  • Frond upper surface, midrib (rachis) and tubular leaflets

    L Jensen

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  • Frond midrib (rachis) with stellate hairs

    L Jensen

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  • Pairs of growing leaflets covered with stellate hairs

    L Jensen

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  • Mature leaflet with detail of stellate hairs

    L Jensen

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  • Fertile leaflets, terminal sori with hair-covered indusium flaps surrounging unopened sporangia

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Hymenophyllum malingii is an epiphytic filmy fern with long-creeping stems (rhizomes) distinctive pendulous, narrow, grey- green and hairy fronds with cylindrical ultimate segments bearing sori.
An endemic species found at higher elevations on the North Island down to sea level on the South Island, preferring mountain cedar (Libocedrus bidwillii) as a substrate.
 

Vegetative characteristics

Fertile frond and sporangia

Plant form: creeping rhizome with fronds up to 30 cm

Frond appearance: similar to sterile frond

Frond stalk, midrib: stalk wiry; both stalk and midrib with stellate hairs;

Sporangium location: on terminal ends of leaflets

Frond shape: narrow ovate to linear

Sporangium position: leaflet margin

Frond blade: 2-3-pinnate (divided 2-3 times into leaflets or pinnae)

Sporangia distribution: in groups (sori)

Frond surface: stellate hairs

Sorus shape: tubular

Leaflets: linear, tubular

Sorusm covering: indusium flaps smooth-edged, densely hairy

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