Polystichum richardii (Hooker) J. Smith, 1895, United Kingdom, by Sydney Parkinson. Gift of the British Museum, 1895. Te Papa (1992-0035-2353/1936)
Polystichum richardii: is a fern that doesn't need pollinators. This native shield fern doesn't need bees, birds or other pollinators to reproduce. Unlike flowering plants, ferns produce no flowers, pollen or seeds. Instead, tiny spores develop in round clusters called sori on the undersides of the fronds. When mature, the spores are released, often carried away by wind. In suitable conditions, a spore grows into a tiny, separate stage of the fern's life cycle. Water allows its swimming sperm to reach an egg, leading to fertilisation and the growth of a new fern. Fun fact: Ferns were reproducing millions of years before honeybees existed. They don't need pollination, but usually need moisture for fertilisation.