List of native New Zealand ferns facts for kids
Did you know that New Zealand is home to many amazing ferns? These special plants are called 'native' because they naturally grow here. Ferns are different from flowering plants. They reproduce using tiny spores instead of seeds.
In New Zealand, you'll find different kinds of ferns. Some are huge, like the 'tree ferns' such as Alsophila, Sphaeropteris, and Dicksonia. These can grow very tall, like small trees! Other ferns are smaller. They grow on the ground, climb up other plants, or perch on trees.
Aspleniaceae: The Spleenworts
The Asplenium group is also known as the spleenworts. There are over 700 types of spleenworts around the world. About 20 of these are native to New Zealand. One type, A. aethiopicum, has been growing here since 2003.
Some common spleenworts you might see include:
- Asplenium appendiculatum – Ground spleenwort, Coastal spleenwort
- Asplenium bulbiferum – Hen and Chickens fern, mouku, manamana
- Asplenium flabellifolium – Butterfly fern, Necklace fern
- Asplenium flaccidum – Hanging spleenwort, raukatauri
- Asplenium oblongifolium – Shining spleenwort, huruhuruwhenua
- Asplenium obtusatum – Shore spleenwort, paranako, parenako
- Asplenium polyodon – Sickle spleenwort, petako
- Asplenium trichomanes – Maidenhair spleenwort
Blechnaceae: Hard Ferns and Water Ferns
This family includes ferns often called hard ferns or water ferns. They come in many shapes and sizes. Some grow near waterfalls, while others prefer alpine areas.
Here are a few examples:
- Austroblechnum colensoi – Waterfall fern, Colenso's hard fern
- Austroblechnum lanceolatum – Lance water fern
- Austroblechnum penna-marina – Alpine water fern
- Cranfillia fluviatilis – Creek fern, kiwikiwi
- Diploblechnum fraseri – Miniature tree fern
- Doodia media – Rasp fern
- Icarus filiformis – Thread fern
- Lomaria discolor – Crown fern
- Parablechnum novae-zelandiae – Palm-Leaf fern, kio kio
Cyatheaceae: The Tall Tree Ferns
This family is famous for its large tree ferns. These ferns have a strong trunk and a crown of fronds at the top. They can be very impressive!
Some well-known New Zealand tree ferns are:
- Alsophila colensoi – Mountain tree fern
- Alsophila cunninghamii – Gully tree fern, Slender tree fern or Ponga
- Alsophila dealbata – Silver tree fern, Silver fern, Kaponga or Ponga. This fern is a national symbol of New Zealand!
- Alsophila smithii – Soft tree fern, Katote
- Sphaeropteris medullaris – Black tree fern, Mamaku
Dennstaedtiaceae: Ground-Dwelling Ferns
This group includes several common ground ferns. You might find them in forests or open areas.
Some ferns from this family are:
- Histiopteris incisa – Water Fern
- Hypolepis millefolium – Thousand-Leaved Fern
- Leptolepia novae-zelandiae – Lace Fern
- Paesia scaberula – Ring Fern
- Pteridium esculentum – Bracken. This is a very common fern found all over New Zealand.
Dicksoniaceae: More Tree Ferns
This is another family of tree ferns found in New Zealand. They also have a distinct trunk.
Here are some types:
- Dicksonia squarrosa – wheki, rough tree fern
- Dicksonia fibrosa – wheki-ponga
- Dicksonia lanata – tūōkura
Dryopteridaceae: Shield Ferns
The Dryopteridaceae family includes ferns often called shield ferns. They get their name from the shape of their spore covers.
Some ferns in this family are:
- Lastreopsis hispida – Hairy fern
- Polystichum richardii – Common shield fern
- Polystichum vestitum – Prickly shield fern
- Rumohra adiantiformis – Climbing shield fern
Gleicheniaceae: Tangle and Umbrella Ferns
This family is known for its unique growth patterns. Some ferns here are called tangle ferns because their fronds can grow in a tangled mess. Others are umbrella ferns, with fronds that spread out like an umbrella.
Examples include:
- Gleichenia dicarpa – Tangle fern, spider fern, swamp umbrella fern
- Gleichenia microphylla – Carrier tangle, parasol fern, waewaekākā
- Sticherus cunninghamii – Umbrella fern, tapuwae kōtuku, waekura
Grammitidaceae: Strap Ferns
These ferns are often small and grow on rocks or trees. They usually have simple, strap-like fronds.
Some types are:
- Ctenopteris herterphylla – Comb fern, Gypsy Fern
- Grammitis billardierei – Common strap fern
Hymenophyllaceae: Filmy Ferns
Filmy ferns are very delicate. They are often thin, almost see-through, and need a lot of moisture to survive. You'll usually find them in damp, shady places.
Some examples are:
- Hymenopyllum demissum – Drooping filmy fern, irirangi, piripiri
- Hymenopyllum dilatatum – Matua, mauku
- Hymenopyllum ferrugineum – Rusty filmy fern
- Hymenophyllum nephrophyllum – Kidney fern, konehu, kopakapa, raurenga. This fern has a distinctive kidney-shaped frond.
- Hymenopyllum sanguinolentum – Piripiri
- Trichomanes colensoi
Marattiaceae: King Ferns
This family includes the impressive King fern. It's one of the largest ferns in New Zealand.
- Ptisana salicina – King fern, horseshoe fern, para
Osmundaceae: Crepe Ferns
These ferns are known for their beautiful, often crinkled fronds.
Some types are:
- Leptopteris hymenophylloides – Single crepe fern, heruheru
- Leptopteris superba – Crepe fern, Prince of Wales feathers, heruheru, ngātukākariki, ngutungutu kiwi
- Osmunda regalis – Royal fern
Ophioglossaceae: Adder's Tongue and Parsley Ferns
This family includes ferns with unusual frond shapes, like the adder's tongue fern.
Examples include:
- Botrychium australe – Parsley fern, patotara
- Botrychium lunaria – Moonwort
- Ophioglossum coriaceum – Adder's tongue
Polypodiaceae: Hounds Tongue and Leather-Leaf Ferns
This family contains ferns with various leaf shapes and textures.
Some types are:
- Dendroconche scandens – Fragrant fern, mokimoki
- Microsorum pustulatum – Hounds tongue fern, kōwaowao, pāraharaha
- Pyrrosia eleagnifolia – Leather-leaf fern
Pteridaceae: Maidenhair and Brake Ferns
This is a large family with many different types of ferns, including the delicate maidenhair ferns and various brake ferns.
Some popular ones are:
- Adiantum aethiopicum – True maidenhair, mākaka
- Adiantum capillus-veneris – European maidenhair, venus-hair fern
- Adiantum cunninghamii – Common maidenhair, Cunningham's maidenhair
- Adiantum hispidulum – Rosy maidenhair
- Cheilanthes distans – Woolly cloak fern, woolly rock fern
- Pellaea rotundifolia – Button fern, round-leaved fern, tarawera
- Pteris comans – Coastal brake, netted brake
- Pteris tremula – Shaking brake, tender brake, turawera
Schizaeaceae: Comb and Fan Ferns
This family includes ferns with unique, often comb-like or fan-shaped fronds.
Examples are:
- Lygodium articulatum – Bushman's mattress, makamaka, mangemange
- Schizaea australis – Southern comb fern
- Schizaea dichotoma – Fan fern
- Schizaea fistulosa – Comb fern
See also
- List of native New Zealand fern allies
- Flora of New Zealand
