The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

Species

Doodia mollis

Etymology

Doodia: Named for Samuel Doody, 17th century London apothecary and curator
mollis: Soft

Common Name(s)

Mokimoki, mukimuki

Current Conservation Status

2012 - At Risk - Naturally Uncommon

Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2012 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS). This report includes a statistical summary and brief notes on changes since 2009 and replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Authors: Peter J. de Lange, Jeremy R. Rolfe, Paul D. Champion, Shannel P. Courtney, Peter B. Heenan, John W. Barkla, Ewen K. Cameron, David A. Norton and Rodney A. Hitchmough. File size: 792KB

Previous Conservation Status

2009 - At Risk - Naturally Uncommon
2004 - Sparse

Qualifiers

2012 - Sp

Authority

Doodia mollis Parris

Family

Blechnaceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

NVS Species Code

DOOMOL

Structural Class

Ferns

Synonyms

Doodia caudata sensu Allan (1961), Doodia caudata sensu A.Rich.; Doodia media var. caudata G.M.Thomson; Blechnum molle (Parris) Christenh.

Distribution

Endemic. Kermadec Islands ( Macauley Island). New Zealand: North Island from Awanui south to the Hamilton Basin, Hauraki Plains, coastal portion of the Bay of Plenty and from the Hawkes Bay, and the southern Wairarapa.

Habitat

Usually found in coastal to lowland forest, often along river margins or in alluvial forest, especially in damp sites or in deep highly fertile forest soils (especially overlying basalt, andesite or alluvium). Occasionally found under light scrub on damp clay banks. This species has also been gathered from the margins of drains running through alluvial forest. Often found in association with Doodia australis, with which it forms sterile hybrids known as D. xdigena Parris. More rarely found sympatric with D. squarrosa, with which it may also hybridise.

Features

Small, tufted fern. Rhizomes erect. Stipes 30-150 mm long, clad in pale brown scales; rachises finely hairy. Frond faintly, sweetly scented when crushed. Sterile fronds spreading to prostrate with short, broad pinnae. Fertile fronds erect with longer narrower pinnae. Frond laminae narrowly elliptic to linear, pinnate, pinnules usually basally and broadly lobed, 80-260 x 15-50 mm, firmly fleshy, hairy or glabrous, pink or pinkish-green when young, maturing pale yellow-green to green. Pinnae in 10-20 pairs, the lower and middle ones stalked, the upper adnate. Terminal pinna 7-25 mm long (usually less than one-eigth of the total frond length). Longest pinnae 8-30 x 2-3 mm. Sori usually running together at maturity. Indusia linear, occasionally hairy.

Similar Taxa

Superficially similar to Doodia squarrosa to which it seems to be closely related. For example both species have markedly dimorphic fronds, i.e., the sterile fronds have broader pinnules and are usually spreading and prostrate while the fertile fronds have narrower, linear pinnules and are held erect. However, D. squarrosa is usually much larger, it also tends to grow in drier and more exposed conditions, such as on basalt lava fields, scoria cones, and in the flood zone of creeks, streams and rivers. The terminal pinna of D. squarrosa is rather longer than in D. mollis (up to about half the total length of the frond) and rachis is distinctly scaly rather than hairy as in D. mollis. Some apparently sterile, intermediate collections made from sites around Awanui where both species are sympatric suggests that they may hybridise.

Flowering

Not applicable - spore producing

Flower Colours

No Flowers

Fruiting

Not applicable - spore producing

Propagation Technique

Easily grown from fresh spores. An attractive fern that does well in dappled light on free draining, fertile but damp soil. Makes an excellent pot plant. Despite its apparently delicate nature it can be very drought tolerant.

Threats

An apparently naturally uncommon, biologically sparse species. Although some populations have been lost through land development the species remains rather widespread, and can at times be locally common.

Chromosome No.

2n = c.192

Endemic Taxon

Yes

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

This page last updated on 5 Sep 2017