We were a-wandering in the Takaka Hills the other day when we came across some healthy looking Maidenhair spleenworts.
Thought it was a patch of tiny mutant Button ferns or maybe Creek ferns at first, but closer examination suggested otherwise. Google Lens (which is occasionally useful) came up trumps with an ID straight off the bat, confirmed with later research.
This is right in their typical habitat amongst the limestone. Another batch were situated in the mouth of a nearby tomo.
Needless to say, a bit of excitement amongst the troops at the discovery of a new, quite distinctive fern (with a marvellously ridiculous, yet historically fascinating name).
New Zealand fern legend Leon Perrie has written an article on the two types of Maidenhair spleenworts found in NZ.
See also the iNaturalist NZ Fern project: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/ferns-in-nz and Maidenhair Spleenwort observations on iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/75609-Asplenium-trichomanes.
