Blechnum discolor

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Crown fern
Nz crown fern.jpg
Blechnum discolor near the Buller River, New Zealand
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Pteridophyta
Class: Polypodiopsida /
Pteridopsida (disputed)
Order: Athyriales
Family: Blechnaceae
Genus: Blechnum
L.
Species:B. discolor
Binomial name
Blechnum discolor
Synonyms

Lomaria discolor(G.Forst.) Willd.

Blechnum discolor commonly called crown fern (Māori: kiokio), is a species of fern in the family Blechnaceae. This species is endemic to New Zealand. [1] As noted by C. Michael Hogan, this species is found in a number of forest communities in diverse locations within New Zealand, and is sometimes a dominant understory component. [2]

Māori language Polynesian language spoken by New Zealand Māori

Māori, also known as te reo, is an Eastern Polynesian language spoken by the Māori people, the indigenous population of New Zealand. Closely related to Cook Islands Māori, Tuamotuan, and Tahitian, it gained recognition as one of New Zealand's official languages in 1987. The number of speakers of the language has declined sharply since 1945, but a Māori language revitalisation effort slowed the decline, and the language has experienced a revival, particularly since about 2015.

Fern group of plants

A fern is a member of a group of vascular plants that reproduce via spores and have neither seeds nor flowers. They differ from mosses by being vascular, i.e., having specialized tissues that conduct water and nutrients and in having life cycles in which the sporophyte is the dominant phase. Like other vascular plants, ferns have complex leaves called megaphylls, that are more complex than the microphylls of clubmosses. Most ferns are leptosporangiate ferns, sometimes referred to as true ferns. They produce coiled fiddleheads that uncoil and expand into fronds. The group includes about 10,560 known extant species.

Endemism ecological state of being unique to a defined geographic location or habitat

Endemism is the ecological state of a species being unique to a defined geographic location, such as an island, nation, country or other defined zone, or habitat type; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsewhere. The extreme opposite of endemism is cosmopolitan distribution. An alternative term for a species that is endemic is precinctive, which applies to species that are restricted to a defined geographical area.

Contents

Spores are produced on specialised fronds. These are more erect, with a dark and shrivelled look. [3]

See also

Astelia trinervia is a species of rhizomatous tufted perennial that is native to New Zealand. An example occurrence of this species is in the North Island's Hamilton Ecological District, where A. trinervia occurs in the understory associated with Blechnum discolor and overstory forest elements of rimu and nothofagus trees.

Blechnum filiforme or thread fern is an endemic New Zealand fern species in the hard fern family, Blechnaceae. The species authority is Ettingsh.

<i>Blechnum fluviatile</i> species of plant

Blechnum fluviatile is a fern known in the Māori language as kiwikiwi. A herbaceous plant, B. fluviatile is a "hard fern" of the genus Blechnum in the family Blechnaceae. It was identified by Patrick Brownsey in 1979. Other common names are star fern, creek fern, kawakawa and kiwakiwa.

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<i>Tmesipteris tannensis</i> species of plant

Tmesipteris tannensis is a fern ally endemic to New Zealand. It is usually epiphytic on trees and tree ferns, but is occasionally terrestrial.

<i>Leptecophylla juniperina</i> species of plant

Leptecophylla juniperina is a species of flowering plant in the family Ericaceae. The species is native to New Zealand and the Australian states of Tasmania and Victoria. The plant's fruit is edible, raw or cooked. Plants grow best in areas with moderate winters and cool moist summers.

<i>Microsorum pustulatum</i> species of plant

Microsorum pustulatum is a species of fern within the Polypodiaceae family. This species occurs widely in New Zealand and also in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania in Australia. An example occurrence in the North Island of New Zealand is in the Hamilton Ecological District where it is associated with a number of other ferns including Blechnum filiforme and Blechnum discolor.

<i>Microsorum scandens</i> species of plant

Microsorum scandens, commonly called fragrant fern is a species of fern within the Polypodiaceae family. This species occurs in parts of New Zealand and Australia. An example occurrence in New Zealand's North Island is in the Hamilton Ecological District where it is associated with a number of other ferns including Blechnum filiforme and Blechnum discolor.

<i>Asplenium flaccidum</i> species of plant

Asplenium flaccidum is a species of fern in the family Aspleniaceae. The plant common name is drooping spleenwort or weeping spleenwort, and the species name flaccidum derives from the Latin root meaning drooping. An example occurrence of A. flaccidum is within a Nothofagus-Podocarp forest at Hamilton Ecological District on New Zealand's North Island in association with other fern species understory plants, crown fern, Blechnum discolor being an example.

<i>Hymenophyllum demissum</i> species of plant

Hymenophyllum demissum is a species of fern in the family Hymenophyllaceae. H. demissum is found in New Zealand, with a specific example occurrence being in North Island's Hamilton Ecological District in a Nothofagus-podocarp forest in association with other fern species understory plants, crown fern, Blechnum discolor being an example.

<i>Alseuosmia</i> genus of plants

Alseuosmia is a genus of five species in the family Alseuosmiacea, growing in New Zealand's North Island. Species members are characteristically small evergreen shrubs. An example occurrence of species representative Alseuosmia macrophylla is in the habitat of the Hamilton Ecological District, where Blechnum discolor and Blechnum filiforme are understory elements with Nothofagus truncata and rimu overstory. Other species are A. banksii, A. pusilla, A. quercifolia, and A. turneri.

<i>Alseuosmia macrophylla</i> species of plant

Alseuosmia macrophylla, the toropapa or karapapa, is a plant species in the family Alseuosmiaceae. This is a small evergreen shrub which is endemic to New Zealand, along with two closely related species. An example occurrence of A. macrophylla is in the North Island habitat of the Hamilton Ecological District, where Blechnum discolor and Blechnum filiforme are understory elements with Nothofagus truncata and rimu overstory. This plant is known for the pleasant scent of its flowers, and its family name translates as "perfumed grove". The small red berries of toropapa are edible and sweet tasting. As a forest understory plant, toropapa will not tolerate full sunlight or frost, and needs its roots to stay moist and cool, however so long as these conditions are met it is reasonably hardy, and is sometimes cultivated as a garden plant.

<i>Asplenium polyodon</i> species of plant

Asplenium polyodon, commonly known as sickle spleenwort, is a species of fern in the family Aspleniaceae. The distribution of A. polyodon includes parts of the countries of Australia and New Zealand. A specific locale of occurrence is in forested areas of Westland, New Zealand, where associate understory species include Crown Fern, Blechnum discolor.

<i>Metrosideros perforata</i> species of plant

Metrosideros perforata, also known as white rata, climbing rata, akatea or Akatorotoro, is one of twelve Metrosideros species endemic to New Zealand. It is one of three white flowering rātā vines.

Coprosma spathulata is a shrub that is native to New Zealand. An example occurrence of this species is within the Hamilton Ecological District in the North Island within a forest dominated by Nothofagus and rimu, where understory associates include Blechnum discolor and Doodia media.

<i>Phyllocladus alpinus</i> species of plant

Phyllocladus alpinus, the mountain toatoa or mountain celery pine, is a species of conifer in the Podocarpaceae family. It is found only in New Zealand. The form of this plant ranges from a shrub to a small tree of up to seven metres in height. An example occurrence of P. alpinus is within the understory of beech/podocarp forests in the north part of South Island, New Zealand.

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Notogrammitis heterophylla is a species of fern within the family polypodiaceae ferns. The species is found in New Zealand, Tasmania and Victoria, Australia. This plant is epiphytic In New Zealand's Westland N. heterophylla occurs in association with other epiphytes such as Asplenium polyodon and Trichomanes reniforme.

Pseudopanax colensoi is a species of evergreen plant. This species is native to New Zealand. An example occurrence in central Westland podocarp/broadleaf forests includes flora associates such as Cyathea smithii and Dicksonia squarrosa, Rumohra adiantiformis, Ascarina lucida, Pseudowintera colorata and Blechnum discolor. The maximum height of this plant is 5 meters and it is the preferred food of possums.

Pseudopanax edgerleyi is a species of plant which is native to New Zealand. An example occurrence in Westland District Podocarp/broadleaf forests includes flora associates such as Cyathea smithii, Dicksonia squarrosa and Blechnum discolor.

Coprosma arborea is a species found in New Zealand. The flowers have insignificant petals and are wind pollinated, with long anthers and stigmas. The fruit is a non-poisonous juicy berry, containing two small seeds. A typical occurrence location of the species is in the Hamilton Ecological District in New Zealand's North Island.

References

Line notes

  1. Primitive Plants. 2009
  2. C. Michael Hogan. 2009
  3. Andrew Crowe (1994). Which Native Fern?, p. 39. Auckland: Viking. ISBN   0-670-85549-9.