Mapping Asplenium flabellifolium

We've just got draft maps back for the eFloraNZ for Asplenium. These are based on verified specimens in the collections of Auckland Museum, Landcare Research, and Te Papa.

For Asplenium flabellifolium, we were very surprised to see that are no specimens from the North Island's East Coast region. There are also no NatureWatch observations. Why is that?! Asplenium flabellifolium is present to both the north and south, and its preference for drier habitats would seem well suited to the climate of the East Coast.

We suppose that Asplenium flabellifolium is present on the East Coast but hasn't yet been documented. If you're in that region, please look out for this species!

We're also surprised by the two specimens from the west coast of the South Island, where the climate would seem too wet. Both specimens are rather old, and it would be good to have recent verification that Asplenium flabellifolium is indeed present on the South Island's west coast. Perhaps there are some drier micro-habitats somewhere.

Posted on January 30, 2017 03:10 AM by leonperrie leonperrie

Comments

Are you at liberty to say whereabouts on the West Coast, what altitude range and how much shade does it like?

Posted by bylsand about 7 years ago

Hi @bylsand . I'll try to track down more locality information for the two West Coast records, but, because they're old, there is unlikely to be anything more precise than what we've represented as dots on the map. It's generally a lowland species, and it is far more likely to be in light shade (including the side of a bank) than in deep shade or full sun. Thanks for your interest.

Posted by leonperrie about 7 years ago

Hello Leon, You do not seem to have many records from East Otago where it is really quite common in forest remnants and around rock outcrops (schist tors and the like). It is present in my garden and I have found a large patch growing nearby under gorse.

Posted by david_lyttle about 7 years ago

Thanks @david_lyttle. The NatureWatch map bears that out too. I'll pass this discrepancy on to Pat Brownsey.

Posted by leonperrie about 7 years ago

Hi again @bylsand. The two specimens are from "Greymouth" in 1946, and "Martins Bay" in 1896.
(Both specimens have images online: http://www.aucklandmuseum.com/collections-research/collections/record/am_naturalsciences-object-319113?k=AK116587&ordinal=0 and http://www.aucklandmuseum.com/collections-research/collections/record/am_naturalsciences-object-299634?k=AK154563&ordinal=0)

@fergus - you might be interested in this West Coast challenge too.

Posted by leonperrie about 7 years ago

Hi again @david_lyttle. I've discussed the relative lack of specimens from Otago with Pat. We're probably not going to have the opportunity to check what is in OTA (us not being able to get down there soon, and them not being able to loan the specimens to us). Is there any chance you could collect and send to us some specimens within the next 2-3 months? To be most useful, they would have to be from sites far enough apart to resolve as different dots on the map. (They would also have to be from places where you had land owner/manager permission to collect.)

Posted by leonperrie about 7 years ago

Excellent work, I shall peel an extra eyeball and keep a look out, will also ask a few bods from hereabouts.

Posted by bylsand about 7 years ago

Is that a kowhai seed capsule the lower right corner of the photo?!

Posted by bylsand about 7 years ago

Hi @leonperrie. It's all over the place in Hawkes Bay, including Cape Kidnappers and Te Mata Park. I'l be in the Mahia Reserve tomorrow and on Portland Island the day after so shall look out for it. Right now it will be pretty shrivelled but I presume if collected in that state it could be re-hydrated. Do you want specs from any of the above? I'd be surprised not to find it at Boundary Steam too.

Posted by mike68lusk about 7 years ago

yes, well spotted. That photo is from Marlborough.

Posted by leonperrie about 7 years ago

Oh (@mike68lusk) , so if per chance I do spy one are you wanting a specimen or simply a photo ob?

Posted by bylsand about 7 years ago

Hi @mike68lusk. Observations from anywhere north of about Tutira will be useful. And if you've got land owner/manager permission, a specimen would be fantastic.

Posted by leonperrie about 7 years ago

Hi @bylsand - if you've got land owner/manger permission to collect, a specimen of a few fronds from anywhere on the West Coast would be fantastic (postal address: Leon Perrie, Te Papa, PO Box 467, Wellington 6011). Otherwise, a photo will still be very useful.

Posted by leonperrie about 7 years ago

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