Asplenium haughtonii

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Asplenium haughtonii

Critically Endangered (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Division: Polypodiophyta
Class: Polypodiopsida
Order: Polypodiales
Suborder: Aspleniineae
Family: Aspleniaceae
Genus: Asplenium
Species:
A. haughtonii
Binomial name
Asplenium haughtonii
(Hook.) Bir, Fraser-Jenk. & Lovis[2]
Synonyms[2]
  • Ceterach haughtonii (Hook.) Cronk
  • Gymnogramma haughtonii Hook.

Asplenium haughtonii, also known as the Barn fern, is a species of fern in the family Aspleniaceae. It is native to Saint Helena.[3][2]

Taxonomy[]

A global phylogeny of Asplenium published in 2020 divided the genus into eleven clades,[4] which were given informal names pending further taxonomic study. A. haughtonii belongs to the "A. cordatum subclade" of the "Schaffneria clade".[5] The Schaffneria clade has a worldwide distribution, and members vary widely in form and habitat.[6] There is no clear morphological feature that unites the A. cordatum subclade. The sister species of A. haughtonii is from Socotra, and the two together are sister to the African . These three are scaly ferns of dry habitats; the other two species in the subclade are sister to them, and are walking ferns, with long undivided leaves and proliferating leaf tips.[7]

Etymology[]

The English name Barn fern is derived from a basalt hill located on the north-east of Saint Helena called The Barn. This hill is believed to carry 60% of the entire A. haughtonii population.[3]

Distribution[]

They are found at elevations of 250–600 m. It is found on the drylands of the island. It is widely distributed, although they are usually found in remote areas.[3]

Status[]

It is listed as critically endangered by the IUCN.[3]

Threats[]

In 2012, an emergency extension area to a runway of St Helena airport caused massive destruction of the species' habitat. Before this event, individuals were abundant in Dry Gut which comprised a large majority of the world population.[3][8]

Conservation[]

Before the development of this extension occurred, some conservationists rescued as many individuals as possible for relocation. About 1,000 individuals were moved into the St Helena Government's Endemic Plant Nursery.[3][8]

References[]

  1. ^ "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Asplenium haughtonii". 12 June 2015.
  2. ^ a b c "Asplenium haughtonii (Hook.) Bir, Fraser-Jenk. & Lovis | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2020-10-26.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Phil Lambdon (St. Helena Nature Conservation Group/ Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew); Assessments), Shayla Ellick (St Helena Plant (2015-06-12). "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Asplenium haughtonii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 2020-10-26.
  4. ^ Xu et al. 2020, p. 27.
  5. ^ Xu et al. 2020, p. 36.
  6. ^ Xu et al. 2020, p. 42.
  7. ^ Xu et al. 2020, pp. 43–44.
  8. ^ a b "Endemic Species | Saint Helena Island Info: All about St Helena, in the South Atlantic Ocean". sainthelenaisland.info. Retrieved 2020-10-26.
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