Classification
Class
Polypodiopsida
Subclass
Polypodiidae
Order
Polypodiales Link
Family
Dryopteridaceae Herter
Genus
Dryopteris Adans.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Dryopteris wallichiana (Spreng.) Hyl., Bot. Not. 1953(3): 352 (1953)
Synonymy:
  • ≡ Aspidium wallichianum Spreng., Syst. Veg., ed. 16, 4, 104 (1827)
Lectotype (selected by Fraser-Jenkins in Fraser-Jenkins et al. 2018): Nepal, Kathmandu District, summit of Sheopure Mt., BM (n.v.)
Etymology:
Named in honour of Nathaniel Wallich (1786–1854), a Danish surgeon and botanist who worked in India for the Danish and, later, British East India Companies.
 Recognition

Dryopteris wallichiana has a stout, erect rhizome, bearing fronds 1000 mm or more in length. The stipe is densely covered in red-brown, linear and hair-pointed scales, which become darker brown on the rachis. The laminae are narrowly elliptic, and deeply 1-pinnate-pinnatifid to 2-pinnate. The pinnae are sessile, longest near the middle of the laminae, with the basal pair much shorter and sometimes deflexed. There are flat scales on the abaxial costae, the secondary segments are truncate or obtuse and adnate to the costae, and the indusia reniform (see Hoshizaki & Moran 2001).

 Distribution

North Island: Northland.

Altitudinal range: c. 15 m.

Collected as a self-sown plant from cultivation in Kerikeri.

Occurs naturally in North, Central and South America, southern Africa, from India to Japan, south-east Asia, and Hawai‘i (Fraser-Jenkins et al. 2018).

Dryopteris wallichiana distribution map based on databased records at AK, CHR & WELT. Image: K.Boardman © Landcare Research 2020 CC BY 4.0
Dryopteris wallichiana 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 up to 25 m from a cultivated plant.

 Biostatus
Exotic
 First Record

Ogle et al. (2021). Voucher AK 374688, 2017.

 Images
Dryopteris wallichiana. Herbarium specimen of a fertile frond showing truncate secondary segments, and dense red-brown scales on the stipe, AK 375688/B. Image: Auckland Museum © Auckland Museum All rights reserved
Dryopteris wallichiana. Herbarium specimen of a fertile frond showing truncate secondary segments, and dense red-brown scales on the stipe, AK 375688/B. 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.; Gandhi, K.N.; Kholia, B.S. 2018: An annotated checklist of Indian pteriodphytes. Part 2. Woodsiaceae to Dryopteridaceae. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehra Dun, India.
Hoshizaki, B.J.; Moran, R.C. 2001: Fern Grower’s Manual. Timber Press, Portland, Oregon.
Hylander, N. 1953: Taxa et nomina nova in opera meo: Nordisk kärlväxtflora I (1953) inclusa. Botaniska Notiser 1953(3): 352–359.
Ogle, C.C.; de Lange, P.J.; Cameron, E.K.; Parris, B.S.; Champion, P.D. 2021: Checklist of dicotyledons, gymnosperms and pteridophytes naturalised or casual in New Zealand: additional records 2007–2019. Perspectives in Biosecurity Research Series 5: 45–116.
Sprengel, K.P.J. 1827: Systema vegetabilium. Vol. 4. Dieterich, Göttingen.
Steele, R.; Lowe, M. 2002–2006: Index. Subtropicals Index: 1–12.