A.1 SpeciesA.1 Species

A.1 Species

This recovery plan addresses the management requirements for conservation of Asplenium listeri (Christmas Island Spleenwort). This is a fern endemic to Christmas Island, where it is known from a very small number of localities growing among rocks and on cliffs of exposed limestone outcrops.

Technical description: Small, lithophytic fern with rhizome shortly creeping, stout, scaly; scales narrowly ovate about 3 to 6mm long, long-acuminate, latticed, dark brown, glossy; fronds in a crown.
Stipe slender, about 2.5 to 3.5cm long, slender, black, with some scales at the base.
Fronds short, erect, about 3.5 to 9cm long, pinnate, with about 8 to 18 pinnae which are gradually reduced towards the apex; pinnae ovate, about 8 to 18mm long, with several lobes divided to near mid-vein, unequal-sided, incised and toothed, cuneate at the base, more or less glabrous, coriaceous, with stalk 0.3mm long; lateral veins forked, free. Sori linear along lateral veins; indusium linear (DuPuy 1993b).

Illustrations: DuPuy (1993b) p.555; Fig. 97 A fertile plant x0.5; B fertile pinna x2 (ill. E. Catherine)

Photograph: DuPuy (1993b) p.330 Fig.67