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NZ Plants

Botrychium australe - patotara, parsley fern

Family: Ophioglossaceae

  • Frond, divided into basal, sterile and coarsley-divided leaflets and an erect spike with reduced fertile leaflets.

    J Braggins

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  • Range in colour of sterile portions of fronds

    J Braggins

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  • Portion of a spike with sporangium-containing leaflets.

    J Braggins

    View picture

Botrychium australe is a small terrestrial fern with an erect stem bearing thick fleshy roots and a frond divided into a long fertile spike and a short, sterile coarsely divided blade with oblong, blunt-ended leaflets.
A species found throughout New Zealand.
 

Vegetative characteristics

Fertile frond and sporangia

Plant form: erect stem with fronds divided into sterile and fertile portions; sterile portion a shorter, broad blade up to 25 cm long

Frond appearance: fertile portion taller, a narrow spike; divided 3-5 times

Frond stalk, midrib: green stalk and midrib

Sporangium location: along branching axis

Frond shape: oval to 5-angled

Sporangium position: on short stalks

Frond blade: 3-5-pinnate (divided 3-5x into leaflets or pinnae)

Sporangia distribution: individually

Frond surface: glossy green

Sorus shape:

Leaflets: oblong, blunt ended

Sorus covering: 0

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