Manual of the New Zealand Flora.

15. Pteris, Linn

15. Pteris, Linn.

Rhizome usually creeping. Fronds of very various habit, generally compound, often of large size. Veins free or more or less anastomosing. Sori marginal, linear, continuous, placed on a slender connecting-vein (receptacle) running along the edge of the frond and joining the tips of the transverse veinlets. Indusium long, narrow, continuous, composed of the more or less modified and membranous margin of the frond, at first involute over the sori, at length usually spreading and exposing the sporangia. Sporangia stalked, bursting transversely, girt by an incomplete vertical ring.

Understood in the wide sense of the "Synopsis Filicum," this is a large genus of 125 species or more, almost cosmopolitan in its distribution. Two of the New Zealand species are endemic, two extend to Australia and the Pacific islands, the remaining two are very widely spread indeed.

A. Veins free.
Fronds 2–8 ft. or more, deltoid, rigid, coriaceous. Segments ½–1 in. long, decurrent at the base 1. P. aquilina.
Fronds 9–18 in., ovate or ovate-lanceolate, rigid, coriaceous, glandular-pubescent. Segments small, 1/10–¼ in. long, acute 2. P. scaberula.
Fronds 1–3 ft., ovate or deltoid, membranous, glabrous.
Segments ½–1½ in. long, obtuse 3. P. tremula.
B. Veins anastomosing.
Fronds 2–4 ft., deltoid, dark-green, 2-pinnate or rarely 3-pinnate. Segments of the pinnules lanceolate or linear-lanceolate, 1–3 in. long, entire or toothed at the tips 4. P. comans.
Fronds 1–3 ft., deltoid, pale-green, 2–4-pinnate. Pinnules
often remote, stalked, ovate or deltoid, deeply lobed 5. P. macilenta.
Fronds 2–4 ft., ovate-deltoid to ovate-lanceolate, glaucous, 2–3-pinnate. Pinnæ distant, sessile; pinnules oblong, obtuse, usually entire 6. P. incisa.

P. lomarioides, Col. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xiii. (1880) 380, said to have been collected near Tapuaeharuru, Taupo, is proved by the type specimen in Mr. Colenso's herbarium to be the widely distributed P. cretica, Linn. Although it is just possible that the species may exist near some of the hot springs at Taupo, where other tropical ferns, such as Gleichenia dichotoma, Nephrodium unitum and N. molle are known to grow, still, as the locality has been repeatedly searched without success, the most prudent course is to wait for further evidence before introducing the species into the Flora. The same course must be followed with respect to P. longifolia, Linn., an equally widely spread plant, stated by Mr. Buchanan (Trans. N.Z. Inst. xiv. (1882) 356) to have been gathered at Tarawera, between Napier and Taupo, but of which there are no indigenous specimens in any New Zealand herbarium.

1. P. aquilina, Linn. Sp. Plant. 1533; var. esculenta, Hook.f Fl. Nov. Zel. ii. 25.—Rhizome stout, as thick as the finger, creeping, much branched, often matted, subterranean, producing numerous scattered fronds. Stipes variable in length, stout, rigid, erect, brown, smooth and shining. Fronds usually from 2–6 ft. long including the stipes, but often taller and sometimes 10–12 ft., broadly deltoid in outline, coriaceous, glabrous or nearly so when mature, usually more or less rusty-pubescent when young, especially on the under-surface, 3–4-pinnate; rhachises grooved above, usually pubescent. Primary pinnæ broad, distant, spreading, the lowest pair the largest and most compound, the upper ones gradually decreasing in size; secondary and tertiary lanceolate, always terminating in a linear obtuse undivided segment. Ultimate segments linear or linear-oblong, decurrent at the base. Veins free, once or twice forked. Sori usually continuous all round the segment, and often extending to the decurrent base. Indusium double, but the inner one often very inconspicuous.— Hook. Sp. Fil. ii. 196, t. 141; Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 363; Hook, and Bak. Syn. Fil. 162; Benth. Fl. Austral. vii. 731; Thorns. N.Z. Ferns, 60; Field, N.Z. Ferns, 92, t. 14, f. 1, 1 A. P. esoulenta, Forst. Prodr. n. 418; PL Escul. 74; A. Rich. Fl. Nouv. Zel. 79; A. Cunn. Precur. n. 200; Haoul, Choix, 38. Pteridium aquilinurn, Kuhn. Keemadec Islands, North and South Islands, Chatham Islands, Stewart Island, Auckland and Campbell Islands: Abundant throughout, except in dense forest, often covering extensive areas, especially in the North Island. Common fern; Bracken; Rau-aruhe; Rahurahu; of the root Aruhe, Roi. Sea-level to 4000 ft. P. aquilina, in some of its forms, is almost cosmopolitan; the variety esculenta, which chiefly differs in the decurrent bases of the pinnules, is confined to the Southern Hemisphere. The starchy rhizome formerly constituted one of the chief vegetable foods of the Maoris. For an account of the mode of its preparation, and many interesting particulars concerning its use, reference should be made to Mr. Colenso's paper "On the Vegetable Food of the Ancient New-Zealanders" (Trans. N.Z. Inst. xiii., pp. 1–38.)
2. P. scaberula, A. Rich. Fl. Nouv. Zel. 82, t. 11.—Rhizome wide-creeping, rigid, wiry, clothed with chestnut-brown scales. Stipes 4–12 in. long, rigid, erect, yellow-brown or chestnut-brown, scabrous, glandular-pubescent and usually more or less bristly. Fronds 9–18 in. high, rarely more, 4–9 in. broad, ovate or ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, rigid, coriaceous, pale yellow-green, usually copiously glandular-pubescent on both surfaces, rarely almost glabrate; rhachis scabrous, fiexuous. Primary pinnæ numerous, the lowest pair often distant, lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, 3–9 in. long; secondary lanceolate. Ultimate divisions small, 1/10–¼in. long, stipitate, acute, entire or the barren ones toothed or incised, often lobed or pinnatifid at the base; veins obscure. Sori copious, when mature usually covering the whole segment except the costa and the extreme tip and base.— A. Cunn. Precur. n. 204; Raoul, Ghoix, 38; Hook. Sp. Fil. 174, t. 93 A; Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. ii. 25; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 364; Hook. and Bak. Syn. Fil. 163; Thorns. N.Z. Ferns, 61; Field, N.Z. Ferns, 94, t. 19, f. 5. P. microphylla, A. Cunn. Precur. n. 206; Raoul, Choix, 38. Allosurus scaberulus, Presl. Pœsia scaberula, Kuhn. North and South Islands, Stewart Island, Chatham Islands: Abundant throughout, usually on bank-sides, or in dry open places in woods. Sea-level to 2500 ft. Easily distinguished from the other species of the genus in New Zealand by the finely divided frond and minute coriaceous pinnules. In the North Island it quickly takes possession of the sides of road-cuttings in forest districts, often to the exclusion of other vegetation.
3. P. tremula, R. Br. Prodr. 154.—Rhizome short, stout, suberect, putting up numerous tufted erect fronds. Stipes 1–2 ft. long, stout, erect, quite glabrous, smooth and polished, bright chestnut- brown, darker at the base. Fronds 1–3 ft. long or more, 6–24 in. broad, ovate or ovate-deltoid, acuminate, bright-green, herbaceous, quite glabrous, 2–4-pinnate; rhachis smooth, naked. Primary pinnæ 6–12 pairs, subopposite; the lowest 6–15 in. long, ovate-lanceolate or ovate-deltoid, usually bipinnate, sometimes tripinnate; upper gradually becoming shorter and narrower and less compound; the uppermost linear, pinnate or pinnatifid. Ultimate segments ½–1 ½in. long, 1/10–⅙in. broad, linear or linear-oblong, obtuse, sessile and decurrent at the base; fertile usually entire or slightly crenate. at the tips; barren generally broader and with the margins crenate throughout; veins free, forked. Sori copious, usually continuous. on both the upper and lower edges of the segments, rarely interrupted.— Hook. Sp. Fil. ii. 174, t. 120 B; Hook. Fl. Nov. Zel. ii. 25; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 364; Hook. and Bak. Syn. Fil. 161; Benth. Fl. Austral. vii. 731; Thoms. N.Z. Ferns, 60; Field, N.Z. Ferns, 90,. t. 23, f. 2. P. affinis, A. Rich. Fl. Nouv. Zel. 81; A. Cunn. Precur. n. 201; Raoul, Choix, 38. P. tenuis, A. Cunn. Precur. n. 205. P. Kingiana, Endl. Prodr. Fl. Insl. Norfolk. 13. Kermadec Islands, North Island: Abundant, ascending to 2500 ft. South Island: In various localities in Nelson and Marlborough, but not common; recorded from Banks Peninsula by Armstrong. Also in Australia and Tasmania, Norfolk Island, Lord Howe Island, and Fiji. Very variable in the size and shape of the ultimate segments. P. Kingiana. (var. Kingiana, Hook. and Bak. Syn. Fil. 161) sometimes has them over 1 ½ in-long and more than ¼ in. broad; while in P. tenuis, A. Cunn., they are very narrow, the sori occupying the whole under-surface except the costa.
4. P. comans, Forst. Prodr. n. 419.—Rhizome short, stout, suberect. Stipes 1–2 ft. long or more, erect, yellow-brown, polished, naked or clothed at the base with dark-brown scales. Fronds 1–4 ft. long, ½–3 ft. broad, broadly deltoid, acuminate, membranous, dark-green, quite glabrous, 2-pinnate or rarely 3-pinnate at the base; rhachis smooth, polished. Lower pinnæ in large specimens nearly 2 ft. long by 1 ft. broad and bipinnate, but usually from 9–18 in. and pinnate, shortly stalked; upper pinnæ gradually becoming shorter and narrower, oblong-lanceolate or lanceolate, regularly pinnatifid; terminal pinna 6–9 in. long, cut down almost to the rhachis. Ultimate segments variable in size and shape, 1–3 in. long, ¼–½ in. broad, lanceolate or linear-lanceolate to linear-oblong, acute or obtuse, straight or falcate, the fertile ones serrate at the tips or sinuate-serrate or sinuate-lobed, sinus between the segments acute. Veins anastomosing copiously. Sori continuous, but not reaching the apex of the segments.— A. Rich. Fl. Nouv. Zel. 79; A. Cunn. Precur. n. 199; Raoul, Choix, 38; Hook. Sp. Fil. ii. 219; Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. ii. 26; Hook. and Bak. Syn. Fil. 171; Benth. Fl. Austral. vii. 733; Thoms. N.Z. Ferns, 62; Field, N.Z. Ferns, 95, t. 24, f. 1. P. Endlicheriana, Aghard Sp. Pterid. 66; Hook. Ic. Plant, t. 973; Sp. Fil. ii. 218; Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 364. Litobrochia comans, Presl. Tent. Pteridogr. 66. Kebmadec Islands: Most abundant, McGillivray, T. F. C. North Island: From the Three Kings Islands and the North Cape southwards to the Bay of Plenty, usually in shaded places near the sea, plentiful on the outlying islands, rare and local on the mainland. This is often confounded by fern-collectors with large states of P. macilenta var. pendula, but is an altogether different plant, with a coarser and stouter habit of growth, much-broader less-divided fronds, and usually long and narrow segments, with the venation more copiously anastomosing. It is also found in Australia, Tasmania, and the Pacific islands.
5. P. macilenta, A. Rich. Fl. Nouv. Zel. 82, t. 11.—Rhizome very short, suberect, clothed with the bases of the old stipites. Stipes 6–12 in. long, pale yellow-brown, becoming darker towards the base, smooth or slightly scaly below. Fronds 1–3 ft. long, 9–18 in. broad, broadly ovate or deltoid, membranous, flaccid, pale-green and glistening, quite glabrous, 2–3-pinnate; rhachis smooth, stramineous. Primary pinnæ numerous, distant, the lower ones 6–12 in. long, the upper gradually shorter; terminal pinna 1–3 in. long, acuminate, deeply pinnatifid. Secondary pinnæ stalked, those on the lower branches again pinnate, on the upper pinnatifid. Pinnules 1–2 in. long, scattered, often remote, stalked, ovate or deltoid, cuneate at the base, pinnatifid, the terminal ones adnate and decurrent. Ultimate segments oblong or ovate, deeply and coarsely toothed or incised at the apex. Veins anastomosing along the costa, free elsewhere. Sori in the notches between the segments, short, not nearly reaching the tips of the segments.— A. Cunn. Precur. n. 202; Raoul, Choix, 38; Hook. Sp. Fil. ii. 219; Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. ii. 26; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 364; Hook, and Bak. Syn. Fil. 171; Thoms. N.Z. Ferns, 61; Field, N.Z. Ferns, 94, t. 7, f. 1. Litobrochia macilenta, Brack. Fil. U.S. Expl. Exped. 106. Var. pendula.—Not so finely divided. Terminal pinna larger, 3–5 in. long, often caudate. Pinnules larger, 2–2 ½ in. long, ovate, acuminate; segments longer and narrower.—P. pendula, Col. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xx. (1888) 218. North Island: Not uncommon throughout in dry woods. South Island: Nelson—Near Nelson, T. F. C.; Takaka, Kingsley. Marlborough— Buchanan. Also said to occur on Banks Peninsula and near Greymouth, but I have seen no specimens.
6. P. incisa, Thunb. Fl. Cap. 733.—Rhizome long, creeping, rather slender, smooth, producing numerous scattered fronds. Stipes 1–3 ft. high or more, stout, erect, smooth and glossy, yellow-brown or red-brown when mature, often glaucous when young, naked or slightly scabrous at the base. Fronds variable in size, 2–4 ft. long, broadly deltoid or ovate-deltoid to ovate-lanceolate, membranous when young, firm in age, quite smooth and glabrous, glaucous-green, 2–3-pinnate; rhachis pale chestnut-brown, smooth and polished. Primary pinnæ large, 6–12 in. long or more, ovate-lanceolate, opposite or nearly so, rather distant, sessile, the opposite pairs often almost connate at the base, 2-pinnatifid or the uppermost simply pinnate. Secondary pinnæ lanceolate, deeply pinnatifid, sometimes pinnate at the base. Ultimate segments oblong or oblong-deltoid, obtuse, those of the barren fronds often sinuate-dentate or lobed. Veins sometimes all free, but usually more or less anastomosing near the costa of the pinnules. Sori continuous or interrupted, seldom reaching either the base or apex of the segment.— Hook. Sp. Fil. ii. 230; Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 364; Hook, and Bah. Syn. Fil. 172; Benth. Fl. Austral. vii. 732; Thoms. N.Z. Ferns, 62; Field, N.Z. Ferns, 96, t. 8, f. 4. P. vespertilionis, Lab. PL Nov. Holl. ii. 96, t. 245; Hook. f. Fl. Antarct. i. 110; Fl. Nov. Zel. ii. 26. P. Brunoniana, Endl. Prodr. Fl. Insl. Norfolk. 12; A. Cunn. Precur. n. 203; Raoul, Choix, 38. P. montana, Col. in Tasmanian Journ. Nat. Sc. (1845) 12. Litobrochia incisa and L. vespertilionis, Presl. Tent. Pteridogr. 149. Histiopteris incisa, Aghard Sp. Pteridog. North and South Islands, Stewart Island, Chatham Islands, Auckland and Campbell Islands, Antipodes Island: Abundant throughout, often forming thickets on the skirts of woods, &c. Sea-level to 3000 ft. Universally spread through the tropics and the south temperate zone. In New Zealand it attains exceptional luxuriance by the margins of hot springs an the Rotorua and Taupo districts, in some localities reaching a height of 12 ft.