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NZ Plants

Anogramma leptophylla - annual fern, Jersey fern

Family name: Pteridaceae

  • Fertile frond lower surface, midrib (rachis) and leaflets with scattered sporangia

    J Braggins

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  • Frond, dorsal surface

    L Jensen

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Anogramma leptophylla is a terrestrial fern with a short tufted stem. In early spring small divided fronds with fan-shapped segments are formed and these then dry off by mid to late summer as the plant becomes dormant.
A widely distributed but uncommon fern found on the Poor Knights Islands, the eastern side of the North Island south to the middle of the South Island in exposed places.
 

Vegetative characteristics

Fertile frond and sporangia

Plant form: tufted stems with fronds up to 4 cm in length

Frond appearance: larger than sterile frond

Frond stalk,midrib: stipe red to brown

Sporangium location: on lower frond surface

Frond shape: oval

Sporangium position: along veins

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

Sporangia distribution: in groups (sori)

Frond surface: smooth

Sorus shape: elongate

Leaflets: fan-shaped, deeply notched

Sorus covering:  

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