Questions? AskAuckland
  

NZ Plants


Asplenium polyodon - petako, sickle spleenwort


Spleenwort family: Aspleniaceae

Asplenium polyodon has a short creeping stem (rhizome) preferring trunks of trees where it forms long arching fronds with jagged-edged leaflets.
Found throughout the North Island and off shore islands to western areas of the South Island.
 

Vegetative characteristics

Fertile frond and sporangia

Plant form: short, erect rhizome with fronds up to 500 mm in length (sometimes more)

Frond appearance: similar to sterile frond

Frond stalk, midrib: scales narrowly triangular with a filamentous tip

Sporangium location: on lower frond surface

Frond shape: narrowly elliptic

Sporangium position: radiating along veins

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

Sporangia distribution: in groups (sori)

Frond surface: glossy, leathery, hairless

Sorus shape: linear, curved away from midrib

Leaflets: narrow-ovate and finely tapering, margins doubly toothed

Sorus covering: linear, covering (indusium)  opening toward midrib