Adiantum hispidulum Sw.
A. pubescens Schkuhr Krypt. Gew. 1809, 108, t. 115.
Rhizome stout, shortly creeping; stipites clustered. Stipes us. stout, scabrid, very dark brown, shining, 15-30-(40) cm. long; clad in greyish pubescence when young. Rhachis rather stout; densely clad, at least when young, in hispid hairs. Costae hispidulous. Lamina 15-35 × 10-30 cm., broadly flabellate, dark olive green (pink to red when immature), firm, glab. to ± hispid; divided into (5)-10-(15) branches. Primary pinnae 7-20 × 1-3 cm., about lanceolate-acuminate. Secondary pinnae up to 15 × 5 mm., dimidiate-oblong to dimidiate-rhomboid, very shortly stalked, very close-set; lower margin entire, upper with numerous small crenate teeth. Sporangia 10-15 groups per pinnule, close-set, in sinuses, protected by lunulate to reniform reflexed margin 1-2 mm. long.
DIST.: K., Three Kings, N., S. Lowland forest from near North Cape; local south of lat. 38° in N.; in S.: D'Urville Id, Miss A. Hutson; Bishopdale, near Nelson, W. Grant; Banks Pen., J. B. Armstrong (See Wall-Rec. Canterbury Mus. 4, 1935, 103); Seaview, Dunedin, W. A. Scarfe. Also Australia, Pacific Islands to tropical Asia and Africa.
