'' Lastreopsis nephrodioides '' is a

fern A fern (Polypodiopsida or Polypodiophyta ) is a member of a group of vascular plants (plants with xylem and phloem) that reproduce via spores and have neither seeds nor flowers. The polypodiophytes include all living pteridophytes except t ...

in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

Dryopteridaceae. The

specific epithet In taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called nomenclature ("two-name naming system") or binary nomenclature, is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, bot ...

refers to its resemblance to ''Nephrodium decompositum'' R.Br. (= ''

Lastreopsis decomposita ''Lastreopsis decomposita'', known as the trim shield fern, is a common plant found in eastern Australia. The habitat is rainforest or moist sheltered eucalyptus forests. It may form large colonies. This fern features delicate lacy fronds, up to ...

'' (R.Br.) Tindale).

Description

The plant is a terrestrial or

epiphytic An epiphyte is an organism that grows on the surface of a plant and derives its moisture and nutrients from the air, rain, water (in marine environments) or from debris accumulating around it. The plants on which epiphytes grow are called phoroph ...

fern. Its fronds are up to 80 cm in length, comprising a 10–40 cm stipe and a lamina 15–40 cm long, 20–50 cm wide.

Distribution and habitat

The fern is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

’s

subtropical The subtropical zones or subtropics are geographical zone, geographical and Köppen climate classification, climate zones to the Northern Hemisphere, north and Southern Hemisphere, south of the tropics. Geographically part of the Geographical z ...

Lord Howe Island Lord Howe Island (; formerly Lord Howe's Island) is an irregularly crescent-shaped volcanic remnant in the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand, part of the Australian state of New South Wales. It lies directly east of mainland P ...

in the

Tasman Sea The Tasman Sea (Māori: ''Te Tai-o-Rēhua'', ) is a marginal sea of the South Pacific Ocean, situated between Australia and New Zealand. It measures about across and about from north to south. The sea was named after the Dutch explorer Abe ...

; it occurs in forest on the southern parts of the Island, especially at higher elevations.

References

Dryopteridaceae Endemic flora of Lord Howe Island Plants described in 1872 Ferns of Australia Taxa named by John Gilbert Baker {{Dryopteridaceae-stub