Flora of New Zealand Series

G. littoralis Col. in T.N.Z.I. 16, 1884, 344.

Sticherus flabellatus (R. Br.) St. John in Occ. Pap. Bishop Mus. 17, 1942, 81.

Rhizome stout, up to 6 mm. diam., clad in subulate, acuminate, ± laciniate, reddish brown scales. Stipes stout, up to 40 cm. long and 5 mm. wide, smooth and polished except near base. Branches several, ascending, pinnate almost to base. Pinnae 10-30 cm. long, lanceolate in outline, ascending. Pinnules 3-5 cm. long, coriac., narrow-linear, serrulate towards apices; dark green above, paler green below, with or without scales; veins once-forked. Sori cop.; sporangia 3-5 per sorus, yellowish-brown.

DIST.: N. Streamsides in lowland forest or scrub from near North Cape to lat. 37º. Also Tasmania, Australia, New Caledonia.

G. littoralis Col., from "woody cliffy shores of Whangaruru Bay" and from "Great Barrier Island", is regarded by Cheeseman (Man. N.Z. Fl. 1925, 87) as "certainly nothing more than a dwarf state, usually occurring near the sea". Colenso based his description on the Great Barrier specimens; the type specimen, at W, appears to bear out Cheeseman's conclusion.