Leptolepia novae-zelandiae

Family: Pteridaceae
Region: New Zealand, Australia.
Habitat: temperate rainforests, moist forest understories; cool, moist, shaded environments, wet, sheltered locations; forest floors; on tree trunks as an epiphyte.
Ecology: epiphyt; contributes to biodiversity; providing microhabitats for small organisms; moisture retention.
Use: ornamental, for its attractive, feathery fronds.BotanyFoern; small to medium-sized, typically epiphytic.
Roots: fine, fibrous; emerge from the rhizome.
Rhizome: creeping and rhizomatous.
Leaves: finely divided, deeply pinnate, feathery in appearance; delicate, lacy texture; dark green to light green; 15 to 30 cm long; linear or lanceolate, with small, finely cut segments along the margins.
Sori: along the veins on the underside of the fronds, arranged in rows or clusters; covered by an indusium