Flora of New Zealand Series

Hooker's description (Fl. N.Z. 2, 1854, 7) is: "rachi submuricata, fronde tripinnata flaccida, pinnulis sessilibus lineari-elongatis obtusis pinnatifido-lobatis, lobulis rotundatis glaberrimis, involucris demum laceris v. hemisphaericis margine subintegris, rachi costaque supra strigoso-pubescentibus infra tomentosis squamosisque rarius glabratis glaberrimisve punctis minimis muricatis.

HAB. New Zealand, Forster. Northern Island: Wycari River, Bay of Islands, A. Cunningham. Mountains of the east coast and interior, Colenso. Auckland, Sinclair. Nat. name, 'Punui', Col."

Of the incomplete specimens to Hooker's hand he remarks: "All these are intermediate between C. medullaris and C. smithii, differing from the former in the flaccid, membranous, pale green fronds, which are more or less pubescent and scaly along the partial rachis and costa beneath, and from the latter in the longer pinnules. The involucre is sometimes irregularly torn from the top; at others, and apparently more frequently, it separates from the base on one side and turns back against the frond as a shallow cup, exactly as in the C. smithii : both states of involucre occur on the same frond. Main rachis muricated with minute scattered raised points."

Cheeseman (Man. N.Z. Fl. 1925, 25) gives a similar description of the indusium and cites specimens ranging from Mangonui County to Westland and Mount Peel, Canterbury; and also Chatham Island specimens. He remarks: "Best distinguished from C. medullaris, to which it is closely allied, by the smaller size, more membranous fronds, paler and much less muricate stipes and rhachis, which are more or less clothed with yellowish strigose hairs, and by the smaller segments and sori." The specimen of A. Cunningham seems best taken as the type. The status of the various forms that have been assigned to C. cunninghamii needs much further study, including the possibility that some may be the progeny of C. medullaris × C. smithii.