The Nephrolepis Boston fern complex (including Nephrolepis exaltata [L.] Schott), Nephrolepidaceae, naturalised in New Zealand

Nephrolepis cordifolia (ladder fern) is widely recorded as an invasive weed, and is naturalised in New Zealand. The first records of this plant being wild date from the 1970s. The presence of other native species of Nephrolepis (in particular N. flexuosa Colenso) potentially complicates the recognition of the naturalised species. However, N. cordifolia has been easily distinguished by the presence of ‘bulbils’ or ‘tubers’ that appear along wire-like runners. In this paper we report the presence of the Boston fern complex (including N. exaltata) now apparently wild in the Auckland region. This aggregate is without bulbils and may superficially be confused with the other native and
non-native species.

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Large, M., and Farrington, L. (2016). The Nephrolepis Boston fern complex (including Nephrolepis exaltata [L.] Schott), and Nephrolepidaceae, naturalised in New Zealand. Unitec ePress Perspectives in Biosecurity Research Series (2).

https://doi.org/10.34074/pibs.rs22016

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Perspectives in Biosecurity is an occasional, multi-disciplinary electronic series of research papers and other outputs covering all aspects of the field of biosecurity, including, but not restricted to: invasion biology and ecology, invasive species identification/ diagnostics, management and eradication/control, new invasive species records, modelling, biosecurity law and policy, relationships between human society and invasive species. Papers in Perspectives in Biosecurity are primarily the results of research carried out by staff, students, graduates, associates, and collaborators of Unitec Institute of Technology. All papers are subject to a double blind peer review process.