Microsorum pustulatum

Location & distribution maps

Phylogeny & links to associated information

Wikipedia links:       Wikipedia links:       Monilophytes > Polypodiales > Polypodiaceae > Microsorum  pustulatum         

Other links:                 

Plant  information

Common name:               Kangaroo Fern

• It is commonly referred to as kangaroo fern because of its mature leaves tend to resemble the shape of a kangaroo foot

• It is also referred to as hound's tongue, and as kōwaowao and pāraharaha in Māori

Conservation status:   . . .

Etymology:   

• The name was derived from the species' characteristic small, blistered (risen) sori on its abaxial surface (micro = small, sorum = from sori, pustulatum= blistered)

Spores:                  

• The spores themselves are 45–62.5 µm long, 20–32.5 µm wide, pale, with wart-like protuberances

Leaves:         

•  Generally, the species exhibits 1-9 pairs of lobed, glossy-green fronds which are erect to pendant and can range from 5-50 cm in length

• The texture of the fronds is leathery, and they have thick, wavy margins

• They have distinct, relatively large (approximately 3-4 mm wide) circular sori on their abaxial surface

Stem & branches: 

Roots:         

• The rhizomes have clathrate, ovate scales which are 3-7 mm long and 1-2 mm wide

Habit:        

• Epiphytic fern

• Can grow to a maximum height of approximately 30 cm and a maximum width of approximately 120 cm

Habitat:   

•  Climbs on suitable substrates (fallen logs, rocks, growing plants etc.) via long, creeping grey-green rhizomes

• They are evident across a range of Wet Sclerophyll Forest, Rainforest and more open Subalpine environments with preferred growing conditions being in ferneries or gullies with partial to full shade

• The species are described as middle storey species, but are evident anywhere from forest floors to canopies

Distribution:                  

• Native to eastern Australia and New Zealand

• From southeastern Queensland through NSW to Victoria on the Australian mainlando

• Also Tasmania, Lord Howe Island, Norfolk Island, New Zealand's North and South islands, and the Chatham, Kermadec, and Antipodes islands

Additional notes:     

• Taxonomy

  • The species was first named Polypodium pustulatum by botanist Georg Forster in 1786

  • Edwin Copeland published the name Microsorum pustulatum in Genera Filicum Copeland, E.B. (1947). 

  • In 2019 the species was renamed Zealandia pustulata by Testo & A.R.Field, which is accepted by Plants of the World Online

  • The species and its subspecies are known by numerous other synonyms

  • There are two subspecies

    • Zealandia pustulata subsp. pustulata is present across the species' range

    • Zealandia pustulata subsp. howensis is endemic to Lord Howe Island

Sources of information:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zealandia_pustulata (2023)