Fork Ferns

Fork Ferns (Psilotaceae) Fork fern sporophytes lack true roots, but have creeping subterranean rhizomes. They also lack true leaves but have a green photosynthetic stem containing vascular tissue xylem and phloem with scale-like leaves that lack vascular tissue. Psilotaceae are represented in New Zealand by two genera, Psilotum (1 of) and Tmesipteris (4 of). Tmesipteris normally grow, as epiphytes on tree ferns, but are occasionally terrestrial, while Psilotum prefers warm ground and is common in thermal areas.		Genus
		- Psilotum  - Tmesipteris
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		- Division Psilophyta  - Intro to the Psilotales  - Psilophyta  - Psilophyta

Species: Psilotum nudum (L.) P. Beauv.
Found: Coastal forest and thermal areas. Substrate: Warm soil or rock crevices.	Distribution: North of the North Island Height: To 500 mm

Species: Tmesipteris elongata P. A. Dang. Leaves are spirally arranged, narrower than other fork ferns, and the sporangia have rounded ends.
Found: Coastal and Lowland forest. Substrate: Epiphytes on tree ferns.	Distribution: New Zealand wide Length: 40 mm to 120 mm Endemic: No

Species: Tmesipteris lanceolata P. A. Dang. Leaves are generally in the same plane and sporangia have rounded ends.
Found: Coastal and Lowland forest. Substrate: Epiphytes on tree ferns.	Distribution: New Zealand wide Length: 40 mm to 200 mm Endemic: No

Species: Tmesipteris sigmatifolia (Spreng.) Bernh. The rarest of the fork ferns, sporangia have rounded ends with unequal sized pairs.
Common Name: None Found: Lowland forest. Substrate: Epiphytes on tree fern.	Distribution: New Zealand wide Length: 50 mm to 800 mm Endemic: Yes

Species: Tmesipteris tannensis (Spreng.) Bernh. One of the most common fork ferns, sporangia have pointed ends.
Common Name: Chain fern Found: Lowland forest. Substrate: Epiphytes on tree ferns, sometimes terrestrial.	Distribution: New Zealand wide Length: 50 mm to 800 mm Endemic: Yes

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