Holly Fern found at the Lower Road
Holly Fern Cyrtomium falcatum is an exotic introduction to LHI. It is a fast-growing fern that produces high spore load, propagates easily and loves rock face nooks and crannies. It is targeted for eradication on LHI.
Ian Hutton alerted us to the occurrence of a patch of Holly Fern on the Lower Road, Mt Lidgbird. Holly Fern has high potential to spread further; with outlier plants already being removed from Red Point and Hell’s Gates.
L-R: Holly Fern, Lower Road. Photo: Ian Hutton;
Holly Fern spores. Photo: Dreamstime
Holly Fern can pose a risk to our rare and endemic ferns especially the Rock Shield Fern (RSF) Polystichium moorei, from the Southern Mountains. RSF is slow growing and has an estimated population of less than 100 individuals. Propagation trials have shown RSF to take four years to produce one fern leaf!
Recent weed inspections have removed Holly Ferns from the Settlement. If you have this fern please remove it, bag it and compost it. If you need help to, call us at the LHIB.
Let’s get on to it!
Rock Shield Fern in its lovely LHI habitat. Photos: LHI Board.
Background
Lord Howe Island is home for 57 native fern species with 25 of these endemic – only known from the island. The Southern Mountains hosts the greatest diversity of ferns.
There are at least 12 ferns that have been introduced to LHI including Holly Fern (native to eastern Asia). Ferns are prohibited from import to LHI due to their capacity to spread far and impact our endemic LHI species. Grow Native!
This article appeared the The Lord Howe Island Signal, 1 August 2022.
