Kauaikinana Woodfern (Dryopteris crinalis var. podosorus)

Global Rank: G1 - Critically Imperiled
Legal Status: Federally Endangered
Family: Dryopteridaceae
State: HI
Nature Serve ID: 139510
Lifeform: Forb/herb
Categories of Interest: Ferns
Date Inducted in National Collection:

Description:

This terrestrial fern is small, producing stipes and rachises covered in hair-like scales containing sporangia. Its fronds stand upright and its globular sori are raised on visible narrow stalks, distinguishing it from other Dryopteris species.

Where is Kauaikinana Woodfern (Dryopteris crinalis var. podosorus) located in the wild?

Habitat:

This fern is typically found in wet forests by streams in deep, dark valleys. It grows to mossy walls in these subtropical to tropical forests.

Distribution:

It is endemic to the steep valleys of the wet forests found on Kauai, particularly trails in the areas of Koke`e and Kawaikoi. These ferns are found in high elevations (1,097-1,463 meters).

States & Provinces:

Kauaikinana Woodfern can be found in Hawaii

Which CPC Partners conserve Kauaikinana Woodfern (Dryopteris crinalis var. podosorus)?

Harold L. Lyon Arboretum

Not Sponsored

Assigned 06/09/17

CPC's Plant Sponsorship Program provides long term stewardship of rare plants in our National Collection. We are so grateful for all our donors who have made the Plant Sponsorship Program so successful. We are in the process of acknowledging all our wonderful plant sponsorship donors on our website. This is a work in progress and will be updated regularly.

Conservation Actions

Clarice Mendoza

09/07/2017

There are only 34 known individuals in its native range, among two subpopulations.

Clarice Mendoza

09/07/2017

Alien plant species that threaten this fern's survival through direct competition include Kahila garland-lillies, sawtooth blackberries, roseleaf brambles, and non-native guava trees of the Psidium genus. Other threats include habitat degradation and predation by feral ungulates and occasional natural events that are especially harmful to species of limited populations and genetic diversity.