Classification
Class
Polypodiopsida
Subclass
Polypodiidae
Order
Polypodiales Link
Family
Dryopteridaceae Herter
Genus
Dryopteris Adans.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Dryopteris carthusiana (Vill.) H.P.Fuchs, Bull. Soc. Bot. France 105: 339 (1959)
Synonymy:
  • ≡ Polypodium carthusiana Vill., Hist. Pl. Dauphiné 1, 292 (1786)
Neotype (designated by Fraser-Jenkins 1980): France, Isère, 1.5 km above Chateau d’Entremont on route to Mt Bovinant, Grande Chartreuse, N.E. of Grenoble, C.R. Fraser-Jenkins 7335, 1 July 1978, BM 001066001 (!online)
Etymology:
From the Latin carthusianus, relating to the Grande Chartreuse Monastery, Chartreuse, France, near where the species was first collected.
 Recognition

Dryopteris carthusiana has a prostrate rhizome and an ovate to narrowly ovate lamina, which is 2-pinnate-pinnatifid to 3-pinnate. The scales on the abaxial costa surfaces are flat, and the sori are arranged in one row either side of the costa, protected by reniform indusia. The species is very similar to D. dilatata but differs in having a more erect habit, a prostrate rather than erect rhizome, paler rhizome scales lacking a dark central area, and a paler and narrower lamina. The lamina is flat rather than having slightly down-turned margins (Page 1982; Hoshizaki & Moran 2001).

 Distribution

North Island: Northland.

Altitudinal range: c. 10 m.

Dryopteris carthusiana has been recorded as spreading from cultivated plants in a garden in Kerikeri.

It occurs naturally in eastern North America, Europe and Asia (Smith 1993).

Dryopteris carthusiana distribution map based on databased records at AK, CHR & WELT. Image: K.Boardman © Landcare Research 2020 CC BY 4.0
Dryopteris carthusiana distribution map based on databased records at AK, CHR & WELT. Image: K.Boardman © Landcare Research 2020 CC BY 4.0
 Habitat

Recorded as self-sown in a pot near a cultivated parent plant.

 Biostatus
Exotic
 First Record

Heenan et al. (2008). Voucher AK 296560 (incorrectly cited as AK 299450), 2006.

 Cytology

No chromosome count has been reported for New Zealand plants. In Europe the plant is known to be an allotetraploid sexual species derived from D. intermedia and an unknown diploid species (Fraser-Jenkins 1980).

 Images
Dryopteris carthusiana. Herbarium specimen of a fertile frond from a plant cultivated in Auckland, AK 266554. Image: Auckland Museum © Auckland Museum All rights reserved
Dryopteris carthusiana. Herbarium specimen of a fertile frond from a plant cultivated in Auckland, AK 266554. Image: Auckland Museum © Auckland Museum All rights reserved
 Bibliography
Brownsey, P.J.; Perrie, L.R. 2021: Dryopteridaceae. In: Breitwieser, I. (ed.) Flora of New Zealand — Ferns and Lycophytes. Fascicle 31. Manaaki Whenua Press, Lincoln.
Fraser-Jenkins, C.R. 1980: Nomenclatural notes on Dryopteris: 4. Taxon 29: 607–612.
Fuchs, H.P. 1959: Identification et validité du Polypodium pteridoides Lamarck. Bulletin de la Société Botanique de France 105: 338–343.
Heenan, P.B.; de Lange, P.J.; Cameron, E.K.; Parris, B.S. 2008: Checklist of dicotyledons, gymnosperms, and pteridophytes naturalised or casual in New Zealand: additional records 2004–06. New Zealand Journal of Botany 46: 257–283.
Hoshizaki, B.J.; Moran, R.C. 2001: Fern Grower’s Manual. Timber Press, Portland, Oregon.
Page, C.N. 1982: The ferns of Britain and Ireland. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
Smith, A.R. 1993: Dryopteridaceae. In: Pteridophytes and Gymnosperms. Vol. 2. In: Flora of North America Editorial Committee (ed.) Flora of North America. Oxford University Press, New York.
Villars, D. 1786: Histoire des plantes de Dauphiné. Vol. 1. Prevost, Paris.