Flora of New Zealand Series

S. propinqua A. Cunn. in Compan. bot. Mag. 2, 1837, 362.

Microschizaea fistulosa (Labill.) Reed in Bol. Soc. broteria.

Comb fern.

Rhizome up to 5 mm. diam., clad in glossy chestnut hairs. Stipes 5-35 cm. long, about 1 mm. diam., erect, strict to flexuous, unbranched. Lamina 1-2 cm. × 5 mm.; segs 10-20, 2-5 mm. long, close-set, secund, slightly incurved. Sporangia about 0·5 mm. diam.

DIST.: N., S., St., Ch., A. Coastal to subalpine clayey soils and peaty areas throughout, but uncommon in lowlands of S. Also in Tasmania, Australia, New Caledonia, Madagascar, Chile, Falkland Is.

Hooker (Handbk N.Z. Fl. 1867, 749) described his var. australis as "much smaller; fronds 1-3 in. high- S. australis Gaudichaud; S. pectinata Homb. and Jacq." He gives the locality as "Lord Auckland's group". The N.Z. specimens are depauperated forms of sour peaty ground. Miss Crookes (Dobbie and Crookes, New Zealand Ferns 1951, 28) states that "Miss E. F. Kibblewhite tells me that this variety when grown in her fernery, developed into perfectly normal S. fistulosa".