Flora of New Zealand Series

Trichomanes squarrosum Forst. f. Prodr. 1786, 86.

D. gracilis Col. in T.N.Z.I. 15, 1883, 306.

Wheki.

Rhizomes spreading from main stock to 1 m. or more, giving rise to subsidiary erect caudices, often forming a grove. Caudex slender, up to c. 10 cm. diam., up to 6 m. or more tall, invested by long-persistent bases of stipites; bearing dormant buds near base, or these developing into short or long branches. Stipes densely clad in deciduous dark filiform hairs up to 4 cm. long; roughened by enlarged persistent bases of fallen hairs. Rhachis clad in dark reddish brown hairs when young, becoming rough in age. Lamina 10-25 dm. long, about oblong-lanceolate, 2-3-pinnate, coriac. Primary pinnae 25-50 cm. long, deltoid-ovate, acuminate; secondary rather close-set, 5-8 cm. long, acute. Fertile pinnules close-set, confluent at base, 10-15 mm. long; lobes strongly concavo-convex c. 5 mm. long, rounded, each bearing a sorus. Lobes of barren pinnules shallowly concave, acute, us. sharply toothed. Indusium rather delicate, concavo-convex.

DIST.: N., S., St., Ch. In lowland forests throughout, often persistent after removal of forests.

Endemic.

Colenso's D. gracilis from "low-lying forest between Norsewood and Dannevirke"" is thus described: "Plant arborescent, trunk 10-15 feet high, slender, greyish-brown . . . bearing young plants and shoots 2-3 feet from base . . . stipes . . . with a large quantity of loose light red-brown hairs at bases, and a dense layer of lighter coloured hirsute tomentum adhering beneath . . . sori . . . small, globular." The type specimen (W) consists of a small part of a rhachis with 6 pinnae. The rhachis is dark brown, rough; pinnules 3-5 mm. long. The status requires further study in the field.

The rhizome development appears to have been first noted by Mr Black in the public garden at Palmerston North. Further studies have been made by Miss J. Dingley (see New Zealand Ferns Dobbie and Crookes, 1951, 122).