Flora of New Zealand Series

Polypodium silvaticum Col. in Tasm. J. nat. Sci. 2, 1846, 163.

Polystichum aculeatum var. sylvaticum Cheesem. Man. N.Z. Fl. 1906, 998.

Rhizome slender, erect, clad in linear- to ovate-attenuate dark to pale brown paleae up to 7 mm. long; stipites few, clustered. Stipes slender, pale brown, 6-20 cm. × c. 1 mm., ± clad in spreading pale to dark brown or ferruginous ovate-lanceolate paleae, c. 5 mm. long, ± hairy. Rhachis slender, grooved, paleate, with numerous rather distant pinnae. Lamina 10-40-(60) × 5-12-(15) cm., lanceolate-oblong, acuminate, thin, firm, bipinnate. Larger pinnae 3-12 × 1-2 cm., about lanceolate, acuminate, rather distant to approximate. Pinnules about ovate-lanceolate, up to 15 mm. long, deeply and sharply toothed; lower very shortly stalked, upper decurrent, sts confluent. Sori up to 8 in two rows near mid-vein, c. 0·5 mm. diam.; indusium very rarely present.

DIST.: N., S. Lowland to montane forest, rather local, from lat. 36º 30' to 46º. Endemic?