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NZ Plants

Leptopteris superba - heruheru, ngutungutu kiwi, double crape fern, Prince of Wales feathers

Family: Osmundaceae

Leptopteris superba has a short erect stem bearing delicate, fluffy emerald green fronds tapering equally to base and apex with wooly hairy stipes. The ultimate leaflets stick up at 90 degrees to the plane of the frond. Sporangia are scattered rather than in groups.
An endemic species common in moist montane forest from the middle of the North Island to the west coast of the South Island.

Vegetative characteristics

Fertile frond and sporangia

Plant form: erect stem bearing fronds up to 150 cm

Frond appearance: similar to sterile frond

Frond stalk, midrib: stipe pale brown, abundant fine hairs

Sporangium location: lower frond surface

Frond shape: elliptical , tapering to tip and base

Sporangium position: scattered

Frond blade: 3-pinnate (divided 3x into leaflets or pinnae)

Sporangia distribution: not in groups (sori)

Frond surface: sparsely hairy

Sorus shape: 0

Leaflets: linear, oriented at right angles to plane of frond

Sorus covering: 0