Phlebodium aureum (L.) J.Sm.

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

Phlebodium aureum. Herbarium specimen of a plant from Kerikeri, AK 353079/A, showing the base of a pinnatifid fertile frond. 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

Genus

Phlebodium (R.Br.) J.Sm.

Nomenclature

Scientific Name:

Phlebodium aureum (L.) J.Sm., J. Bot. (Hooker) 4: 59 (1841)

Synonymy:

≡ Polypodium aureum L., Sp. Pl. 1087 (1753)

Lectotype (selected by Proctor 1977): “America”, LINN 1251.10 (!online; see Jarvis 2007)

Etymology:

From the Latin aureus (golden), a reference to the golden-brown rhizome scales in this species.

Vernacular Name(s):

golden polypody

Recognition

Phlebodium aureum is recognised by its long-creeping rhizomes, golden-brown rhizome scales, deeply pinnatifid fertile fronds that are glabrous, often glaucous, and lack hydathodes. The veins are reticulate, with several series of areoles between the costa and lobe margin, and one or two included veinlets in each. The sori are round, exindusiate and arranged in one or two rows either side of the costa. The species is very similar to Polypodium vulgare, but is distinguished by having the sori served by two veins in each areole rather than just one. It differs from species of Lecanopteris in lacking hydathodes on the adaxial lamina surface, and often having sori in more than one row either side of the costae.

Distribution

North Island: Northland, Auckland.

Recorded from Kerikeri and Auckland city.

Occurs naturally in tropical and subtropical parts of the Americas (Smith 1993).

Phlebodium aureum distribution map based on databased records at AK, CHR & WELT. Image: K.Boardman © Landcare Research 2021 CC BY 4.0

Habitat

Recorded as a pot contaminant found in association with cultivated plants purchased from a nursery.

Biostatus

Exotic

First Record

Ogle et al. (2021). Voucher: AK 351756, 2014.

Images

Phlebodium aureum. Herbarium specimen of a fertile frond showing the round sori arranged in two rows either side of the midrib, AK 353079/C. Image: Auckland Museum © Auckland Museum CC BY-NC 3.0 NZ

Phlebodium aureum. Herbarium specimen of a plant from Kerikeri, AK 353079/B, showing the apex of a pinnatifid fertile frond. Image: Auckland Museum © Auckland Museum CC BY-NC 3.0 NZ

Phlebodium aureum. Close up of abaxial lamina surface showing anastomosing veins with two veins in each areole. Image: L.R. Perrie © Leon Perrie CC BY-NC 3.0 NZ

Phlebodium aureum. Golden-brown, squarrose scales on long-creeping rhizome. Image: L.R. Perrie © Leon Perrie CC BY-NC 3.0 NZ

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.

Jarvis, C.E. 2007: Order out of chaos: Linnaean plant names and their types. Linnean Society of London in association with the Natural History Museum.

Linnaeus, C. 1753: Species Plantarum. Impensis Laurentii Salvii, Stockholm.

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.

Proctor, G.R. 1977: Pteridophyta. In: Howard, R.A. Flora of the Lesser Antilles. Arnold Arboretum, Harvard University, Jamaica Plain, Mass.

Smith, A.R. 1993: Polypodiaceae. In: Flora of North America Editorial Committee Flora of North America. Vol. 2. Pteridophytes and Gymnosperms. Oxford University Press, New York.

Smith, J. 1841: An arrangement and definition of the genera of ferns, with observations on the affinities of each genus. Journal of Botany (Hooker) 4: 38–70.