Niphidium J.Sm.

Based on: P.J. Brownsey, B.S. Parris & L.R. Perrie (2021)

Niphidium crassifolium. Herbarium specimen of entire fertile frond from a cultivated plant, AK 380181, with round sori arranged in single rows between main lateral veins. Image: Auckland Museum © Auckland Museum CC BY-NC 3.0 NZ

Classification

Class

Polypodiopsida

Subclass

Polypodiidae

Order

Polypodiales Link

Family

Polypodiaceae J.Presl & C.Presl

Subordinate Taxa

Niphidium crassifolium

Nomenclature

Scientific Name:

Niphidium J.Sm., Hist. Fil. 99 (1875)

Type Taxon:

Niphidium americanum (Hook.) J.Sm.

Etymology:

From the Greek nipho- (snow) and -idius (resembling), a reference to the densely tomentose fronds of the type species.

Description

Epiphytic or terrestrial ferns. Rhizomes short to long-creeping, terete, lacking cavities, occasionally pruinose, scaly. Rhizome scales clathrate, squarrose. Fronds monomorphic, articulated to rhizome, undivided, coriaceous, virtually glabrous. Veins reticulate; areoles with free included veinlets; hydathodes often present. Sori round or slightly elongate, superficial, arranged in single rows of 5–12 between the main lateral veins, not confluent with age; paraphyses present as abortive sporangia; exindusiate. Spores monolete, bilaterally symmetrical, smooth to slightly papillate.

Taxonomy

A genus of 10 species (Lellinger 1972).

Distribution

A neotropical genus occurring from Cuba and Mexico to Argentina and Uruguay. One species casual in New Zealand.

Biostatus

Exotic

Number of species in New Zealand within *Niphidium* J.Sm.
Category	Number
Exotic: Casual	1
Total	1

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. 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.

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.

Lellinger, D.B. 1972: A revision of the fern genus Niphidium. American Fern Journal 62: 101–120.

Smith, J. 1875: Historia Filicum; an exposition of the nature, number, and organography of ferns. Macmillan, London.