Biology:Haplopteris ensiformis

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Short description: Species of fern

Haplopteris ensiformis
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Division: Polypodiophyta
Class: Polypodiopsida
Order: Polypodiales
Family: Pteridaceae
Genus: Haplopteris
Species:
H. ensiformis
Binomial name
Haplopteris ensiformis
(Sw.) E.H.Crane[1]
Synonyms[1]
  • Oetosis ensiformis (Sw.) Greene
  • (Sw.) C.Chr. (C.Chr. ex Ching) E.H.Crane
  • C.Chr. ex Ching Vittaria incurvata
  • Vittaria bensei Cav.
  • Vittaria ensiformis Alderw.
  • Manickam Vittaria plantaginea
  • Vittaria bonincola Bory
  • Vittaria elongata var. ensiformis Sw.
  • H.Itô Copel.
  • Vittaria ensifolia Haplopteris hainanensis
  • Blume Vittaria sessilis
  • Vittaria montana Vittaria hainanensis

Haplopteris ensiformis, commonly known as the tape fern or shoestring fern, is a species of small fern native to tropical areas from eastern Africa and Madagascar, through south and southeast Asia, to Australia and islands of the Pacific. It grows on rocks and tree trunks in rainforest.

Description

Haplopteris ensiformis is a small epiphytic or lithophytic that has short-creeping, rhizomes densely covered in scales and ginger hairs. The dark green fronds are clustered, linear and pendant, about 6 mm (0.24 in) wide and up to 50 cm (20 in) long. Newly emerging fronds are pale pink or red. Sori are produced in continuous lines just inside the margins on the underside of the fronds.

Distribution

The species is native to the following regions as defined in the World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions:[1][2]

  • East Tropical Africa: Tanzania
  • South Tropical Africa: Zimbabwe
  • Western Indian Ocean: Madagascar, Mauritius, Réunion, Seychelles
  • China: China South-Central, Hainan
  • Eastern Asia: Kazan-retto, Ogasawara-shoto, Taiwan
  • Indian Subcontinent: India
  • Indo-China: Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam
  • Malesia: Borneo, Java, Lesser Sunda Islands, Malaya, Maluku, Philippines, Sulawesi, Sumatra
  • Papuasia: Bismarck Archipelago, New Guinea, Solomon Islands
  • Australia: New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland
  • Southwestern Pacific: Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu
  • South-Central Pacific: Easter Islands, Marquesas, Tubuai Islands
  • Northwestern Pacific: Caroline Islands, Marianas, Marshall Islands

Habit and habitat

It grows on tree trunks, logs, rock faces and boulders in rainforest. It also occurs in other wet forest types such as the wet sclerophyll forests of eastern Australia.[3][4]

Conservation

The conservation status of this plant varies across its distribution. In Zimbabwe it is considered to be endangered,[5] and in the Northern Territory it is listed as near threatened,[6] while in Queensland and Singapore it has least concern status.[7][4] As of January 2026, it has not been assessed by the IUCN.

  • Growing on a palm trunk
    Growing on a palm trunk
  • Growing on a Pandanus trunk in swamp forest
    Growing on a Pandanus trunk in swamp forest
  • Rosy coloured new croziers
    Rosy coloured new croziers
  • Sori
    Sori

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Haplopteris ensiformis (Sw.) E.H.Crane". Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2026. https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:1133878-2. 
  2. ↑ Brummitt, R.K. (2001). World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions (2nd ed.). International Working Group on Taxonomic Databases For Plant Sciences (TDWG). https://raw.githubusercontent.com/tdwg/wgsrpd/master/109-488-1-ED/2nd%20Edition/TDWG_geo2.pdf. Retrieved 30 January 2026. 
  3. ↑ "Haplopteris ensiformis". Australian Tropical Herbarium, Cairns; Australian Biological Resources Study, Canberra. 2020. https://apps.lucidcentral.org/ferns/text/entities/haplopteris_ensiformis.htm. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Haplopteris ensiformis (Sw.) E.H.Crane". Singapore Government. https://www.nparks.gov.sg/florafaunaweb/flora/1/5/1580. 
  5. ↑ Hyde, M.A.; Wursten, B.T.; Ballings, P.; Coates Palgrave, M.. "Vittaria ensiformis Sw.". https://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=101190. 
  6. ↑ "Haplopteris ensiformis (Sw.) E.H.Crane". Northern Territory Government, Darwin.. 2013. https://eflora.nt.gov.au/factsheet?id=5968. 
  7. ↑ "Haplopteris ensiformis". Queensland Government. 2026. https://wildnet.science-data.qld.gov.au/taxon-detail?taxon_id=41170. 
  • Map of recorded occurences of this species at the Global Biodiversity Information Facility
  • Observations of this species on iNaturalist
  • Images of this species on Flickriver.com

Wikidata ☰ Q17187440 entry



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