Flora of New Zealand Series

Pteris incisa Thunb. Prodr. Pl. Cap. 1800, 171.

P. vespertilionis Labill. Nov. Holl. Pl. Sp. 2, 1806, 96, t. 245.

P. brunoniana Endl. Prodr. Fl. norf. 1833, 12.

Litobrochia incisa Presl Tent. Pterid. 1836, 149.

Pteris montana Col. in Tasm. J. nat. Sci. 2, 1846, 172.

Water-fern.

Rhizome stout, far-creeping, 4-10 mm. diam., densely clad in dark brown narrow subulate-acuminate paleae; stipites distributed. Stipes stout, 15-50-(90) cm. × 3-10 mm., subsucculent, densely paleate at base, glab. above, dark to olive green or blackish in lower portion, lighter above. Rhachis stout, glab., light brown, with distant opp. to subopp. sessile pinnae. Lamina 25-100 × 10-50 cm., deltoid to ovate-lanceolate, membr. to subcoriac., ± glaucous, 2-(3)-pinnate; veins cop., anastomosing to nearly all free. Largest primary pinnae 8-40 × 5-20 cm., ovate-lanceolate, rather distant, opp. or subopp., sessile. Secondary pinnae rather distant, opp., (confluent in distal region of pinna, distantly pinnate .in proximal region) 2-7 cm. × 10-15 mm. Sterile pinnules ovate to oblong, broadly crenately lobed to subentire; fertile pinnules narrower, triangular, entire or obscurely lobed, attached by widened base, often subfalcate. Sori us. cop., extended along margins but not reaching tips of segs, without true indusium. Occ. fronds of much larger dimensions are met with.

DIST.: K., N., S., St., Ch., A., C., Ant. Common throughout, lowland to montane, on forest margins and in shaded places.

Pantropic to South Africa, Tasmania, N.Z.

Colenso's P. montana from "exposed mountainous situations, in sandy soil, near Waikare Lake: Dec. 1846" (type in W) appears to be a habitat-induced modification, with stipes up to 35 cm. long; pinnae up to 9 cm. long. Colenso agrees that "it may possibly prove to be a stunted variety"