Asplenium lyallii

Lyall's Spleenwort Aspleniaceae

A handsome New Zealand spleenwort with a distinctly leathery character. The erect fronds are glossy dark green and can be either simply pinnate or rather beautifully divided, with considerable variation depending on where the plant grows. At lower elevations it may produce substantial, 2-pinnate fronds, while exposed alpine plants can be much smaller and more simply divided. It is particularly associated with base-rich habitats, especially limestone and marble, but also occurs on basalt and other calcareous substrates. 

Endemic to New Zealand, its range extends through both North and South Islands, from coastal and lowland sites to montane and subalpine habitats, reaching about 1400 m. It also occurs on Stewart Island/Rakiura and the Chatham Islands. 

The accepted name is Asplenium lyallii (Hook.f.) T.Moore, published in 1859. It commemorates David Lyall (1817–1895), Scottish surgeon and naturalist, who collected the type material in Otago in 1850. Its nomenclatural history is particularly tangled, having been treated as A. lucidum var. lyallii, A. obtusatum var. lyallii and A. anomodum. 

• Hardiness: H5–H6, approximately -20 to -15°C
• Height: 20–60 cm
• Spread: 30–60 cm
• Foliage: Evergreen
• Position: Partial shade to shade
• Soil: Moist but well-drained, preferably neutral to alkaline
• Range: Endemic New Zealand; North & South Islands, Stewart Island and Chatham Islands
• Altitude: Sea level to c. 1400 m
• Nomenclature: Asplenium lyallii (Hook.f.) T.Moore, 1859
• Synonyms: A. lucidum var. lyallii; A. obtusatum var. lyallii; A. anomodum