What does it look like?
Polypody is a low growing (up to 25cm tall) evergreen fern with fronds that grow from horizontal rhizomes. Triangular leathery leaflets are light green, and grow more-or-less opposite each other along the midrib of the frond, with leaflets giving a zig -zag appearance up the midrib. Large round clusters of brown spores are found on the underside of the leaflets.
Why is it a problem?
This species is found in Banks Peninsula, across Canterbury and up into Marlborough, as well as the lower North Island.
Polypody is an aggressive spreading fern that thrives on rocky terrain in relatively open conditions. It occupies micro-sites suited to native plants, and suppresses low-growing species by smothering them.
Control methods
For more advice, please contact us on 06 835 9200.
Related links
Management Programme
National Pest Plant Accord
All plants on MPI's National Pest Plant Accord (NPPA) are unwanted organisms under the Biosecurity Act 1993 whose formal or casual trade contributes significantly to their spread.
Plants on the Accord cannot legally be propagated, distributed, or sold in New Zealand. If allowed to spread further, these pest plants could seriously damage our economy and environment.
Unwanted Organism
An unwanted organism is any organism that's capable of causing harm to natural or physical resources (like forests and waterways) or human health. A number of introduced pests in New Zealand are classed as unwanted.
More informationTaxonomies
FamilyPolypodiaceae
TypePlants
GroupClimber
HabitatLand
Management ProgrammeNational Pest Plant AccordUnwanted Organism
