FloraOfNewZealand-Ferns-24-BrownseyPerrie-2018- ...

Athyriaceae is a large family, which reaches its greatest diversity in tropical and north temperate zones. It is represented in New Zealand by the genera Athyrium, Deparia, and Diplazium, with a total of six species. Diplazium australe occurs in lowland districts throughout much of the North Island except the east coast, and in Marlborough, Nelson, and Westland as far south as Hokitika; it is also found in the eastern states of Australia. Two naturalised species, D. esculentum and D. nipponicum, occur in a few places in the northern half of the North Island and are recorded here for the first time.

Deparia petersenii subsp. congrua has a similar distribution to Diplazium australe, but its biostatus is uncertain. It is treated here as including D. tenuifolia, a species that was previously regarded as distinct. D. petersenii subsp. congrua was not recorded until the late 19th century and appears to have spread widely since then. D. petersenii subsp. petersenii is known to have naturalised in several other parts of the world but is recorded here in New Zealand for the first time. Athyrium filix-femina and A. otophorum are both naturalised species; A. filix-femina occurs in urban areas from Auckland to Dunedin, but A. otophorum is a casual recorded only from the Far North.

All members of the family in New Zealand are terrestrial ferns bearing scales, and sometimes hairs. They are recognised by their elongated sori, which are arranged singly or back-to-back along the veins, or bent across the vein at one end.