Polystichum vestitum

Prickly Shield Fern
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Pteridophyta
Class: Pteridopsida
Order: Polypodiales
Family: Dryopteridaceae
Genus: Polystichum
Species: P. vestitum
Binomial name
Polystichum vestitum
(G.Forst.) C.Presl[1]
Synonyms
  • Polypodium vestitum G.Forst.
  • Aspidium vestitum (G.Forst.) Sw.
  • Polystichum venustum Hombr.
  • Aspidium venustum (Hombr.) Hook.f.

Polystichum vestitum, commonly known as the Prickly Shield Fern, is a hardy, evergreen or semi-evergreen ground fern.

Description

Polystichum vestitum is a terrestrial fern with an erect and scaly rhizome, sometimes forming a short trunk and growing up to 700 mm in height. The fronds are 220–600 mm long. There are 3–7 (usually 5) round sori on each pinnule, halfway between the margin and midrib, with a light brown indusium.[2]

Closeup of individual Prickly Shield Fern

Distribution and habitat

The fern is native to the three principal islands of New Zealand and the Chatham Islands, as well as to New Zealand’s subantarctic Snares, Antipodes, Auckland and Campbell Islands, and to Australia’s Macquarie Island.[2]

Macquarie Island

On Macquarie it dominates the fernbrake communities which typically occur on the eastern, leeward side of the island on valley slopes and sheltered valley floors. Although it can form dense stands in which few other plants will grow, more commonly it is found in conjunction with Stilbocarpa polaris, Poa foliosa and Pleurophyllum hookeri.[3] The fern is seriously affected by rabbit grazing.[4]

References

Notes

  1. ↑ Forster (1836).
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Flora of Australia Online.
  3. ↑ Macquarie Island Flora (2010).
  4. ↑ Bryant & Shaw (2007).

Sources