Identification Guide to the Ferns and Lycophytes of Aotearoa New Zealand

By Leon Perrie and Patrick Brownsey

Publication: August 2024
Pages: 280
Format: Flexibind with jacket
ISBN: 978-1-99-116555-8 

RRP: $50

Buy Identification Guide to the Ferns and Lycophytes of Aotearoa New Zealand:

Compiled and written by Te Papa’s foremost fern experts, this fully illustrated guide is for anyone wanting to understand, identify and distinguish 201 of the most commonly encountered species of ferns and lycophytes found across Aotearoa. 

Ferns and lycophytes grow in most places in Aotearoa, from freshwater to alpine habitats, along exposed coasts and on the trunks of forest trees, and from just a few millimetres long to 20-metre-tall tree ferns. Just under half of the native species are only found here. 

Full-colour photographic examples of species, along with diagrams of key features, provide several ways for readers to successfully identify these iconic plants of Aotearoa. 

The book’s manageable size and accessible layout makes it easy to use, enabling readers to quickly recognise species and understand their distinguishing characteristics, habitats and distribution. 

Review highlights

• New Zealand Listener, selected as one of the best coffee table books of 2024. “Clear, well-illustrated guide to the nation's cherished native ferns and related plants.”

Author interviews

• The Press, Leon Perrie interview with André Chumko.

• RNZ Nights, interviewed by Emile Donovan

About the authors

Leon Perrie is Curator Botany at Te Papa and was the lead science curator for Te Papa’s long-term exhibition Te Taiao | Nature. Leon specialises in plant taxonomy, and the collection and curation of plant specimens. His research focuses on New Zealand’s ferns: their numbers, locations and identification, and using DNA analyses to understand how ferns are related to one another and to species overseas. He was a contributing author for the Ferns and Lycophytes series for the online Flora of New Zealand. 

Patrick Brownsey was Curator Botany at the National Museum of New Zealand and Te Papa for over forty years, and expert with New Zealand ferns and lycophytes. He was the lead author for the Ferns and Lycophytes series for the online Flora of New Zealand. At the time of writing, he was Research Associate Botany and had previously been Head of Natural History at the museum where he also curated the philately (stamps) collection. Pat passed away in late 2023 and this book is a dedication to his work. 

Publication: August 2024
Pages: 280
Format: Flexibind
ISBN: 978-1-99-116555-8 

RRP: $50