Christmas Island spleenwort facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Christmas Island spleenwort |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Asplenium
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| Species: |
listeri
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The Christmas Island spleenwort (scientific name: Asplenium listeri) is a special type of fern. It belongs to the Aspleniaceae family. This fern is found only on Christmas Island. This island is an Australian territory in the northeastern Indian Ocean.
The fern's scientific name, listeri, honors a British zoologist and plant collector named Joseph Jackson Lister. He visited Christmas Island in 1887. He was the first person to collect a sample of this unique fern.
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What is the Christmas Island Spleenwort?
The Christmas Island spleenwort is a small fern. It grows on land and often on rocks. It has short stems that creep along the ground, called rhizomes. Its leaves, known as fronds, can grow up to 90 millimeters (about 3.5 inches) long. These fronds grow in a circular shape, like a crown.
Where Does the Christmas Island Spleenwort Live?
This fern is found only on Christmas Island. It lives in very specific places. You can find it growing in cracks on cliffs. It also grows among rocks on exposed limestone areas.
It is a rare plant in the sparse vegetation of the inland cliffs. These cliffs rise above the rainforest on the island's terraces. The fern has not been found in other areas of the island. It likely grows where it can get and keep moisture. This moisture comes from the strong southeasterly trade winds.
Why is the Christmas Island Spleenwort Important?
The Christmas Island spleenwort is closely related to another fern. This fern is called the Sickle Spleenwort (Asplenium polyodon). You can tell them apart by their leaves. The Christmas Island spleenwort has harder and usually smaller leaves. These features might help it survive in its exposed, rocky home.
Is the Christmas Island Spleenwort in Danger?
Yes, this fern is in serious trouble. On July 23, 2002, it was listed as Critically Endangered. This listing happened under Australia's Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. At that time, it was known from only one spot.
Since then, a few more locations have been found. However, there are fewer than 300 individual ferns left. Its habitat is very small and limited. This makes it vulnerable to sudden natural events, like storms. Two of the four new locations are even outside the Christmas Island National Park. This means they are not fully protected.
