Flora of New Zealand Series

A. assimile Swartz Syn. Fil.1806, 125.

A. trigonum Labill. Nov. Holl. Pl. Sp. 2, 1806, 99, t. 248.

Rhizome slender, creeping, often above-ground; clad in linear-subulate attenuate rufous paleae c. 4 mm. long; stipites ± tufted at intervals along rhizome. Stipes very slender, glab., dark brown, shining, 5-25 cm. long, paleate towards base. Rhachis very slender to filiform, ± flexuous, bearing alt. distant pinnae. Lamina pale green, delicate, ovate- to deltoid-oblong, 3-(4) -pinnate, 15-30 × 7-15 cm. Primary pinnae long-stalked, ovate-lanceolate to deltoid, 4-10 × 2-4 cm. Secondary pinnae long-stalked, 2-3 × c. 1 cm. Tertiary pinnae distinctly stalked, rhomboid to suborbicular, up to 1 × 1 cm.; fertile ones us. rather smaller, shallowly lobed on upper margin, flabellately veined, cuneate to truncate at base. Sporangia protected by pale brown, lunulate to oblong, reflexed margin c. 2 mm. diam.; 2-(6) groups per pinna.

DIST.: N., S. Lowland forest from near North Cape to lat. 42°; rather local except in northern part of range; reported also from Akaroa by Raoul, and with some doubt by Martin (T.N.Z.I. 52, 1920, 318). Widely distributed in tropical and subtropical countries.