Flora of New Zealand Series

Pteris scaberula A. Rich. Essai Fl. N.Z. 1832, 82, t. 11.

Allosurus scaberulus Presl Tent. Pterid. 1836, 154.

Pteris microphylla A. Cunn. in Compan. bot. Mag. 2, 1837, 366.

Hardfern.

Type locality: "Crescit in Nova-Zeelandia." Type: P?

Rhizome stiff, far-creeping and branching, 1-2 mm. diam., clad in slender dark brown hairs; stipites distributed along rhizome. Stipes 10-30 cm. × 1-2 mm., stiff, densely hairy at base, muricate in lower half or throughout or smooth; often glandular-pubescent. Rhachis strongly to slightly zigzag, strongly muricate to smooth. Lamina 15-45 × 5-20 cm., deltoid to ovate, acuminate, coriac., stiff, yellow-green, ± glandular-pubescent, 2-3-(4)-pinnate; veins obscure. Larger primary pinnae shortly stalked, subopp. to alt., 7-20 × 3-5 cm., ovate to lanceolate, acuminate. Secondary pinnae shortly stalked, up to 25 × 10 mm., lanceolate. Segs decurrent, pinnatisect to almost pinnate, up to 5 × 2 mm., narrow, sharply toothed or incised, often apiculate. Sori us. cop., extending along both margins of segs, but not reaching base or apex. Indusium delicate, sts obsolete.

DIST.: N., S., St., Ch. Common in lowland and lower montane areas throughout in open forest and open places. Often aggressive after destruction or modification of primitive cover. Endemic.