Classification
Class
Polypodiopsida
Subclass
Polypodiidae
Order
Polypodiales Link
Family
Davalliaceae M.R.Schomb.
Genus
Davallia Sm.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Davallia tasmanii Field, Ferns New Zealand 75, t. 24, f. 5 (1890) subsp. tasmanii
Etymology:
Named in honour of Abel Janszoon Tasman (1603–1659), Dutch navigator who named the Three Kings Islands, from where this species was described.
 Description

Rhizome scales bearing setae and multiseptate hairs along both margins from base to apex. False veins in ultimate lamina segments absent or faint, rarely extending halfway along length of true veins from their junction to their ending. Ultimate lamina segments bearing 1 to several sori; apices of segments usually notched or bidentate.

 Recognition

Davallia tasmanii subsp. tasmanii is most easily distinguished by its rhizome scales, which bear multiseptate hairs along both margins from base to apex, whereas multiseptate hairs are confined to the apices in D. tasmanii subsp. cristata (see von Konrat et al. 1999, fig. 4).

 Distribution

Three Kings Islands.

Altitudinal range: 30–220 m.

Davallia tasmanii subsp. tasmanii is endemic to the Three Kings Islands, where it is known from Great, North East, West and South West Islands (von Konrat et al. 1999).

Davallia tasmanii subsp tasmanii distribution map based on databased records at AK, CHR & WELT. Image: K.Boardman © Landcare Research 2018 CC BY 4.0
Davallia tasmanii subsp tasmanii distribution map based on databased records at AK, CHR & WELT. Image: K.Boardman © Landcare Research 2018 CC BY 4.0
 Habitat

Davallia tasmanii subsp. tasmanii is primarily a terrestrial species found on rocky banks, rock outcrops and scree slopes in exposed coastal situations, scrambling over fallen trunks and boulders, under coastal scrub, on forest margins, or under kānuka forest. It favours drier, more open sites. Very occasionally it is also found as a low epiphyte.

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Endemic)

Davallia tasmanii subsp. tasmanii was given a conservation status of Naturally Uncommon by de Lange et al. (2013).

 Cytology

n = 40 (Brownlie 1961); 2n = 80 (von Konrat et al. 1999).

 Images
Davallia tasmanii subsp. tasmanii. Fertile and sterile fronds on a climbing plant. Image: A.E. Wright © Anthony Wright All rights reserved
Davallia tasmanii subsp. tasmanii. Fertile and sterile fronds on a climbing plant. Image: A.E. Wright © Anthony Wright All rights reserved
Davallia tasmanii subsp. tasmanii. Fertile fronds on a mature plant. Image: P.J. de Lange © Peter de Lange All rights reserved
Davallia tasmanii subsp. tasmanii. Fertile fronds on a mature plant. Image: P.J. de Lange © Peter de Lange All rights reserved
Davallia tasmanii subsp. tasmanii. Mature plant with sterile and fertile fronds climbing kānuka trunk. Image: A.E. Wright © Anthony Wright All rights reserved
Davallia tasmanii subsp. tasmanii. Mature plant with sterile and fertile fronds climbing kānuka trunk. Image: A.E. Wright © Anthony Wright All rights reserved
Davallia tasmanii subsp. tasmanii. Close up of herbarium specimen from Three Kings Islands, WELT P024845, showing mature oblong indusia with truncate apices, joined along all of both sides. Image: J.C. Stahl © Te Papa CC BY-NC 3.0 NZ
Davallia tasmanii subsp. tasmanii. Close up of herbarium specimen from Three Kings Islands, WELT P024845, showing mature oblong indusia with truncate apices, joined along all of both sides. Image: J.C. Stahl © Te Papa CC BY-NC 3.0 NZ
Davallia tasmanii subsp. tasmanii. Close up of herbarium specimen from Three Kings Islands, WELT P024844, showing mature oblong indusia with truncate apices, joined along all of both sides. Image: J.C. Stahl © Te Papa CC BY-NC 3.0 NZ
Davallia tasmanii subsp. tasmanii. Close up of herbarium specimen from Three Kings Islands, WELT P024844, showing mature oblong indusia with truncate apices, joined along all of both sides. Image: J.C. Stahl © Te Papa CC BY-NC 3.0 NZ
 Bibliography
Brownlie, G. 1961: Additional chromosome numbers – New Zealand ferns. Transactions of the Royal Society of New Zealand. Botany 1: 1–4.
Brownsey, P.J.; Perrie, L.R. 2018: Davalliaceae. In: Breitwieser, I.; Wilton, A.D. (ed.) Flora of New Zealand — Ferns and Lycophytes. Fascicle 22. Manaaki Whenua Press, Lincoln.
Cheeseman, T.F. 1891: Further notes on the Three Kings Islands. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute 23: 408–424.
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. [Naturally uncommon]
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. [Naturally Uncommon]
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. [Naturally Uncommon]
Field, H.C. 1890: The ferns of New Zealand. A.D. Willis, Wanganui.
von Konrat, M. J.; Braggins, J. E.; de Lange, P. J. 1999: Davallia (Pteridophyta) in New Zealand, including description of a new subspecies of D. tasmanii. New Zealand Journal of Botany 37: 579–593.