Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Lecanopteris novae-zealandiae (Baker) Perrie & Brownsey in Perrie et al., Blumea 66: 246 (2021)
Synonymy:
  • Polypodium novae-zealandiae Baker in Hooker, Hooker's Icon. Pl. 17, t: 1674 (1886)
  • Microsorum novae-zealandiae (Baker) Copel., Gen. Fil. 196 (1947) – as Microsorium
  • Phymatodes novae-zealandiae (Baker) Pic.Serm., Webbia 8: 222 (1951) nom. illeg.
  • Phymatosorus novae-zealandiae (Baker) Pic.Serm., Webbia 28: 459 (1973)
  • Zealandia novae-zealandiae (Baker) Testo & A.R.Field in Testo et al., Syst. Bot. 44: 749 (2019)
Lectotype (selected by Allan 1961 as first step lectotypification; second step lectotype selected by Brownsey & Perrie 2012): Pirongia Mt, Upper Waikato district, N[ew] Zealand, T.F. Cheeseman 361, ‘rec’d 5/77’, K 000959805!
Etymology:
novae-zealandiae (Latin) – from New Zealand
 Description

Epiphytic or occasionally terrestrial; creeping or climbing ferns. Rhizomes long-creeping, 4–10 mm diameter, scaly. Rhizome scales clathrate, ovate, 5–15 mm long, 1.5–2.5 mm wide, squarrose, orange-brown, virtually entire. Roots of one type, lacking laterally inserted and clasping roots. Fronds 150–900 mm long. Stipes 40–330 mm long, pale brown, glabrous except for very scattered scales at base. Laminae deeply 1-pinnatifid to almost pinnate at base, ovate to elliptic, 100–470 mm long, 60–270 mm wide, alate for 5–20 mm below the lowest lobe, bright green, coriaceous, glabrous. Lamina lobes in 1–25 pairs, 45–180 mm long, 5–15 mm wide, straight or slightly falcate, acuminate, margins entire or wavy, widest at or below middle. Veins reticulate, forming 1–2 series of areoles between costa and lobe margin; hydathodes present but inconspicuous on adaxial surface of lamina. Sori round or slightly elongate, 2–4 mm long, superficial or impressed into lamina forming low bulges on adaxial surface, in 1 row on either side of the costa, closer to the margin; paraphyses absent; exindusiate.

 Recognition

Lecanopteris novae-zealandiae can be confused with L. pustulata, especially when young. However, it is generally a larger plant, rarely if ever produces undivided fronds, and has very distinctive spreading, orange-brown rhizome scales. Hydathodes on the adaxial lamina surface are present but inconspicuous. The thicker rhizomes (>4 mm diameter), distinctive rhizome scales, coriaceous lamina and bright green colour distinguish it from Lecanopteris scandens.

 Distribution

North Island: Auckland, Volcanic Plateau, Gisborne, Taranaki, Southern North Island.

Altitudinal range: 340–1300 m.

Lecanopteris novae-zealandiae is confined to montane forests of the North Island from Coromandel to the southern Tararua Range, occurring from 340 m in the Coromandel Ranges to 1300 m on Maungapōhatu in the Urewera. South of the Volcanic Plateau the species is known only from the southern Tararua Range and from one collection in the Ruahine Range (WELT P022827).

 Habitat

Lecanopteris novae-zealandiae is usually epiphytic, or occasionally found on fallen logs, in damp montane forests of the North Island. It is found in a range of podocarp, beech and broadleaved forest.

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Endemic)
 Cytology
 Bibliography
Brownsey, P.B.; Parris, B.S.; Perrie, L.R. 2021: Polypodiaceae. In: Breitwieser, I. (ed.) Flora of New Zealand — Ferns and Lycophytes. Fascicle 1. Manaaki Whenua Press, Lincoln.
Brownsey, P.J.; Perrie, L.R. 2012: Taxonomic notes on the New Zealand flora: lectotypes and excluded taxa in the fern family Polypodiaceae. New Zealand Journal of Botany 50: 179–184. [as Microsorum novae-zealandiae (Baker) Copel.; Polypodium novae-zealandiae Baker]
Brownsey, P.J.; Perrie, L.R. 2015: Polypodiaceae (excluding Notogrammitis). In: Breitwieser, I; Heenan, P.B.; Wilton, A.D. (ed.) Flora of New Zealand — Ferns and Lycophytes. Fascicle 1. Manaaki Whenua Press, Lincoln. [as Microsorum novae-zealandiae (Baker) Copel.]
Brownsey, P.J.; Smith-Dodsworth, J.C. 2000: New Zealand ferns and allied plants. Edition 2. David Bateman, Auckland. [as Microsorum novae-zealandiae (Baker) Copel.; Phymatodes novae-zealandiae (Baker) Pic.Serm.; Phymatosorus novae-zealandiae (Baker) Pic.Serm.; Polypodium novae-zealandiae Baker]
Copeland, E.B. 1947: Genera Filicum. Chronica Botanica Co., Waltham, Mass.
Crookes, M.W. 1963: New Zealand Ferns, ed. 6. Incorporating illustrations and original work by H.B. Dobbie. Whitcombe & Tombs, Christchurch. [as Microsorum novae-zealandiae (Baker) Copel.]
de Lange, P.J.; Murray, B.G.; Datson, P.M. 2004: Contributions to a chromosome atlas of the New Zealand flora – 38. Counts for 50 families. New Zealand Journal of Botany 42: 873–904. [as Microsorum novae-zealandiae (Baker) Copel.; Polypodium novae-zealandiae Baker]
de Lange, P.J.; Norton, D.A.; Courtney, S.P.; Heenan, P.B.; Barkla, J.W.; Cameron, E.K.; Hitchmough, R.; Townsend, A.J. 2009: Threatened and uncommon plants of New Zealand (2008 revision). New Zealand Journal of Botany 47: 61–96. [as Microsorum novae-zealandiae (Baker) Copel.] [Not threatened]
de Lange, P.J.; Norton, D.A.; Heenan, P.B.; Courtney, S.P.; Molloy, B.P.J.; Ogle, C.C.; Rance, B.D. 2004: Threatened and uncommon plants of New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 42(1): 45–76. [as Microsorum novae-zealandiae (Baker) Copel.] [Sparse]
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Barkla J.W.; Courtney, S.P.; Champion, P.D.; Perrie, L.R.; Beadel, S.N.; Ford, K.A.; Breitwieser, I.; Schönberger, I.; Hindmarsh-Walls, R.; Heenan, P.B.; Ladley, K. 2018: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017. New Zealand Threat Classification Series. No. 22. [as Microsorum novae-zealandiae (Baker) Copel.] [Not Threatened]
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Champion, P.D.; Courtney, S.P.; Heenan, P.B.; Barkla, J.W.; Cameron, E.K.; Norton, D.A.; Hitchmough, R.A. 2013: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 3. Department of Conservation, Wellington. [as Microsorum novae-zealandiae (Baker) Copel.] [Not Threatened]
Hooker, J.D. 1886–1887: Hooker's Icones Plantarum; or Figures, with Brief Descriptive Characters and Remarks of New or Rare Plants. Vol. 17. Williams and Norgate, London.
Large, M.F.; Braggins, J.E. 1991: Spore atlas of New Zealand ferns and fern allies. SIR Publishing, Wellington. [as Microsorum novae-zealandiae (Baker) Copel.; Phymatodes novae-zealandiae (Baker) Pic.Serm.; Phymatosorus novae-zealandiae (Baker) Pic.Serm.]
Large, M.F.; Braggins, J.E.; Green, P.S. 1992: The identity of Polypodium pustulatum Forst.f. (Polypodiaceae). Kew Bulletin 47: 121–127. [as Microsorum novae-zealandiae (Baker) Copel.]
Perrie, L.R.; Field, A.R.; Ohlsen, D.J.; Brownsey, P.J. 2021: Expansion of the fern genus Lecanopteris to encompass some species previously included in Microsorum and Colysis (Polypodiaceae). Blumea 66: 242–248.
Pichi Sermolli, R.E.G. 1951: Notes on some Australian ferns. Webbia 8: 201–223.
Pichi Sermolli, R.E.G. 1973: Fragmenta Pteridologiae IV. Webbia 28: 445–477.
Testo, W.L.; Field, A.R.; Sessa, E.B.; Sundue, M. 2019: Phylogenetic and morphological analyses support the resurrection of Dendroconche and the recognition of two new genera on Polypodiaceae subfamily Microsoroideae. Systematic Botany 44(4): 737–752.