Hymenophyllum nephrophyllum - Kidney Fern, Konehu, Kopakopa
Forms extensive mats on the forest floor, banks and rocks, sometimes epiphytic. Characteristic shiny green translucent kidney shaped frond, almost round with sori grouped around the margin. Able to tolerate habitats from damp forests to exposed lava fields. Fronds curl up when dry and recover immediately in rain. Was named Trichomanes nephrophyllum. Collectors fern.
Mature size
Height 0.15m
Spread 1mNotes
An extraordinary fern, endemic to New Zealand. It is a filmy fern as the kidney-shaped fronds are only a few cells thick and so are translucent. It should not be removed from the wild. Many years ago, we rescued a dislodged clump in the bush at our property in Oratia and potted it up. Any plants we sell have come from division off the sides of that original plant. They grow very slowly, so we have very few in stock.