Flora of New Zealand Series

Notholaena distans R. Br. Prodr. 1810, 146.

Rhizome shortly creeping, ascending, clad in pale brown to ferruginous subulate-attenuate paleae c. 4 mm. long; stipites clustered. Stipes 2-5-(10) cm. long, stiff, erect, dark brown, clad in similar paleae. Rhachis similar to stipes, with distant to approximate subopp. to alt. pinnae. Lamina pinnate to bipinnate, narrow- to ovate-oblong, subcoriac., (3)-5-15 × 1-3 cm. Pinnae stalked, 8-16 mm. long, about ovate, pinnatifid to pinnatisect, sts lower pinnules very shortly stalked; lower surface densely clad in pale to ferruginous subulate-attenuate paleae; upper surface dull green, ± paleate. Sori interrupted to coalescent, extending along margin, hardly or not protected by slightly reflexed lamina margin.

DIST.: N., S. Coastal to montane sunny rocky places from lat. 35° to 44°. Also in Australia, Norfolk Island, New Caledonia.