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Tarawera – Button Fern – Pellaea Rotundifolia

February 17, 2021 Leave a Comment

The Button fern, also known as the Round-leaved fern and the New Zealand cliff brake is endemic to New Zealand and seems to be quite a popular house plant.

It can tolerate quite low temperatures and apparently likes dry acidic soil – not typical preferences for your average fern.

The European name derives from it’s the button-like arrangement of the leaflets. As you might have guessed, the Latin ‘Rotundifolia’ means ’round-leaved’.

Some sources say Pellaea derives from the Greek pellos meain dark leaf or stalk – yet to be confirmed.

Could be confused with the Creek fern which has similar fronds and leaflets.

Tarawera - Button fern
Tarawera – Button fern. The ‘loosely tufted’ linear spread of the Button fern is one characteristic that distinguishes it, at a distance, from the otherwise quite similar looking Creek fern which tends to form a more distinctly focused and circular tufted plant. Photo © Rob Edwards CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

 

Tarawera - Button fern
The dark leathery leaflets or pinnae of the Button fern are a little more spaced out than the Creek fern leaflets. Photo © Rob Edwards CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

 

Tarawera - Button fern
Top of mature Tarawera leaflets. Photo © Rob Edwards CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

 

Tarawera - Button fern
Close up of the underside of fertile Button fern leaflets. Photo © Rob Edwards CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

 

Tarawera - Button fern
The underside of mature Button fern leaflets showing sporangia. The underside is lighter in colour and a bit less glossy than the top. Photo © Rob Edwards CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

 

Yo Bob! What’s with all the fern pics?

Towards the end of 2019 I realised that despite a significant amount of time spent in New Zealand’s natural environments, my ability to identify NZ native flora was pretty poor.

That revelation sparked a new journey of discovery into the marvels of New Zealand’s native plants – starting with our ferns.

As an aid to memory and learning, I decided to photograph, research and post information on the ferns I encounter. I’m working through quite a backlog of images. Stay tuned!

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Filed under: Gallery Images Nelson New Zealand New Zealand Ferns

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