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NZ Plants

Rumohra adiantiformis - leathery shield fern

Family: Dryopteridaceae

  • Frond

    L Jensen

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  • Frond stalk (stipe) with scales

    L Jensen

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  • Frond upper surface, rachis with leaflets

    L Jensen

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  • Frond upper surface, rachis and leaflets

    L Jensen

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  • Frond upper surface, rachis

    L Jensen

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  • Sterile leaflets, lower surface

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  • Frond lower surface, rachis with scales

    L Jensen

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  • Fertile frond lower surface, rachis with leaflets

    L Jensen

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  • Fertile leaflet lower surface, sori with round indusium coverings

    L Jensen

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  • Sorus with indusium moved to one side to show sporangia

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Rumohra adiantiformis is a terrestrial or epiphytic climbing fern bearing glossy, bright green to yellow green leathery fronds. Distinctive for its black sporangia at maturity covered by pale, circular indusial coverings.
Found in damp lowland or coastal forest throughout New Zealand.

sVegetative characteristics

Fertile frond and sporangia

Plant form: creeping stems with fronds up to 70 cm in length

Frond appearance: similar to sterile frond

Frond stalk, midrib: golden brown, shield-like scales

Sporangium location: on lower frond surface

Frond shape: oval

Sporangium position: to either side of vein

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

Sporangia distribution: in groups (sori)

Frond surface: leathery; hairs

Sorus shape: circular, black

Leaflets: oblong, round-ended

Sorus covering: circular with dark centre

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