Plant · GBIF taxon 5566702
Button Fern
Pellaea rotundifoliaAlso known as Round-Leaved Cliff Brake, Tarawera
Button ferns form dense, low-spreading rosettes of arching dark green fronds lined with neat rows of rounded, leathery leaflets. Native to the forest floors and rocky scrub of New Zealand, they thrive on well-drained limestone soils and tolerate drier conditions than many delicate ferns. Their compact habit and glossy, button-like foliage have made them beloved ornamental houseplants worldwide.
EvergreenEndemicShade-Tolerant
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Autotrophic (photosynthesis)
Predators
- Slugs
- Snails
- Herbivorous insects
ThreatsHabitat clearance, competition from invasive weeds, forest degradation
HabitatsLowland forests, coastal scrub, rocky outcrops, limestone banks
Life spanPerennial (10–20+ years)
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderPolypodiales
- FamilyPteridaceae
- GenusPellaea
- SpeciesPellaea rotundifolia
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Light Requirements: Observe or cultivate under bright, indirect light, avoiding scorching direct sun.
- Soil Moisture: Look for them on gritty, well-drained substrate; wild plants rot if left in standing water.
- Wild Etiquette: Leave wild forest specimens intact on native banks to protect fragile root systems.
Frequent Companion (c) Ian Armitage, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Ian Armitage · cc-by
Close Relative no rights reserved, uploaded by Peter de Lange · cc0
Close Relative no rights reserved, uploaded by Peter de Lange · cc0
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