Anogramma ascensionis

• Overview
• Interesting Facts
• Common Names
• Description
• Taxonomy
• Similar Species
• More Info
• Further Reading
• Notes

Overview

Critically Endangered

Interesting Facts

Common Names

Description

Habitat

Biome: Terrestrial [1].

Ecology: All extant individuals occur on sparsely vegetated, vertical cinder banks exposed to the prevailing wind, and thus receive moderately regular moisture from incoming mists. However, those sites at lower altitudes may be subject to arid conditions for long periods. Before the introduction of a large number of weed species to the island from the mid 1800s onward, it seems likely that there would have been much similar habitat across the rock faces of Green Mountain, although most suitable areas are now covered with dense growths of aggressive non-native species, particularly in the damper locations which may once have represented optimum habitat conditions. Known localities are often associated with the native thallose liverwort Plagiochasma rupestre (G. Forst.) Stephani.

A. ascensionis produces green spores which must germinate soon after dispersal . In other Anogramma species, the gametophytes can persist for long periods, propagating vegetatively via gemmae which may have some dormancy capabilities. The sporophytes are short-lived, and only produced under suitable conditions. These features are probably also characteristic of A. ascensionis, which suggests that desiccation of the delicate gametophyte thallus may be a critical limiting factor in survival. Most recently observed plants are very small, reaching no more than 2-4cm high, although from older specimens it is known that heights of at least 10cm were once attained. The diminutive size and persistence of the minute gametophytes ensures that the competitive ability is very low. It is clearly an ephemeral , colonist species, exploiting relatively bare, harsh habitats before later successional communities develop. Potentially suitable habitat areas are now rare on Green Mountain and are likely to suffer further declines.[1].

List of Habitats:

•     6     Rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs , mountain peaks)   
[more info]

Taxonomy

Notes

Publishing author : Diels Publication : Nat. Pfl. 1 [4]. 258. 1899 1899

Basionym author: (Hook.)

Unambiguously distinct from other Anogramma species, both morphologically and ecologically.[1].

Similar Species

Members of the genus Anogramma

ZipcodeZoo has pages for 1 species, subspecies, varieties, forms, and cultivars in this genus:

A. ascensionis (Ascension Island Parsley Fern)

More Info

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Further Reading

• Ashmole, P. and Ashmole M. 2000. St Helena and Ascension Island: a natural history. Anthony Nelson, Oswestry, UK.
• Cronk, Q.C.B. 1980. Extinction and survival in the endemic flora of Ascension Island. Biological Conservation 17(3): 207-219.
• Cronk, Q.C.B. 1992. Relict floras of Atlantic Islands: patterns assessed. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. 46: 91-103.
• Cronk, Q.C.B. 1997. Islands: stability, diversity, and conservation. Biological Conservation. 6: 477-493.
• Cronk, Q.C.B. 2000. The Endemic Flora of St. Helena. Anthony Nelson Publishers, Oswestry, UK.
• Duffey, E. 1964. The terrestrial ecology of Ascension Island. Journal of Applied Ecology 1: 219-251.
• Gray, A, Gardner, S, Kirk, L, Robinson, P, Smölka, Z, and Webster, L, (2000). The Status and Distribution of the Endemic Vascular Flora of Ascension Island. Unpublished Report.
• Gray, A. 2003. Anogramma ascensionis. In: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Available at: www.iucnredlist.org. (Accessed: 27 May 2010).
• Gray, A., Gardner, S., Kirk, L., Robinson, P., Smlka, Z. and Webster, L. 2000. The status and distribution of the endemic vascular flora of Ascension Island. Unpublished Report.
• Gray, A., Pelembe, T. and Stroud, S. 2005. The conservation of the endemic vascular flora of Ascension Island and the threats from alien species. Oryx 39: 1-6.
• IUCN. 2010. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (ver. 2010.3). Available at: http://www.iucnredlist.org. (Accessed: 2 September 2010).
• Packer, J.E. 2002. A Concise Guide to Ascension Island. South Atlantic Ascension Heritage Society, Georgetown.
• Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2009. Data extracted from notes accompanying collection of herbarium specimens. Accessed 2009. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London.
• White, R, and George, T. 2002. Status of endemic plants on Ascension Island in 2002. Ascension Conservation Draft Report.

Notes

Contributors

• Brands, S.J. (comp.) 1989-present. The Taxonomicon. Universal Taxonomic Services, Zwaag, The Netherlands. Accessed January 15, 2012.
• IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. . Downloaded on January 28, 2012.
• Lambdon, P.W., Stroud, S., Gray, A., Niissalo, M., Renshaw, O. & Sarasan, V. 2010. Anogramma ascensionis. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloadedon 30January2012.

Identifiers

• Biodiversity Heritage Library NamebankID: 7151654
• Globally Unique Identifier: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:17022520-1
• International Plant Names Index (IPNI) ID: 17022520
• IUCN ID: 191290
• Zipcode Zoo Species Identifier: 644244

Footnotes

1. Lambdon, P.W., Stroud, S., Gray, A., Niissalo, M., Renshaw, O. & Sarasan, V. 2010. Anogramma ascensionis. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 30 January 2012. [back]

©2004-2012 David Stang. All rights reserved.