Spleenworts

Aspleniaceae and Diplazium.

Spleenwort definition

of the genius of Aspleniaceae and Diplazium.

A small fern which grows in rosettes on rocks and walls, typically with rounded or triangular lobes on a slender stem. Spleenworts were formerly used to treat disorders of the spleen.

There are twenty four species of spleenworts in New Zealand,

• Asplenium appendiculatum – Ground spleenwort, Coastal spleenwort
• Asplenium bulbiferum – Hen and Chickens fern, mouku, manamana
• Asplenium chathamense
• Asplenium cimmeriorum
• Asplenium flabellifolium – Butterfly fern, Necklace fern
• Asplenium flaccidum – Hanging spleenwort, raukatauri
• Asplenium gracillimum
• Asplenium haurakiense – Hauraki Gulf spleenwort
• Asplenium hookerianum – Hooker’s spleenwort
• Asplenium lamprophyllum
• Asplenium lyallii – Lyall’s spleenwort
• Asplenium northlandicum – Northern shore spleenwort
• Asplenium oblongifolium – Shining spleenwort, huruhuruwhenua
• Asplenium obtusatum – Shore spleenwort, paranako, parenako
• Asplenium pauperequitum – Poor Knights spleenwort
• Asplenium polyodon – Sickle spleenwort, petako
• Asplenium richardii – Richard’s spleenwort, matua-kaponga
• Asplenium scleroprium (A. aucklandicum)
• Asplenium shuttleworthianum
• Asplenium subglandulosum – Blanket fern
• Asplenium trichomanes – Maidenhair spleenwort

Asplenium flaccidum – Hanging spleenwort, Raukatauri or Makawe

Full name Nga Makawe o Raukatauri meaning ringlets of the hair of the goddess of music.

Asplenium flaccidum – Hanging spleenwort is found

About Hanging spleenwort, Raukatauri or Makawe

The family of Aspleniacea ferns are easily recognised by having sporangia in rows along the veins on the lower surface of pinnae (leaflets). Sporangia in each row are partially obscured by a covering (indusium) attached to one side. This is a large, distinctive group with about 20 species in New Zealand. Asplenium flaccidum is a common epiphytic of this species of fern. The plant and the species name flaccidum is derived from the Latin root meaning drooping. It is usually found growing from the trunks of trees and tree ferns in the bush. Its limp, dull green, hanging fronds reach up to 1m in length and are quite thick and leathery to touch.

Asplenium flaccidum subsp. flaccidum is a very common but variable species. It is found from exposed coastal areas up to montane forests throughout New Zealand. It has a short-creeping, thick rhizome that is thickly covered with dark brown to black scales. Its fronds are pendent, >90 cm long, 1–2-pinnate with pinnae often deeply pinnatisect or 2-pinnatisect, veins free; lamina bright green, thick and leathery, and never gives rise to proliferous buds. The sori (2–7 mm long) appear marginal on each leafy segment of the blade,

Forest role

Eaten by Kokakao and Kereru.