Flora of New Zealand Series

Rhizome stout, far-creeping, paleate; stipites distributed along rhizome. Stipes stout, scabrid, purplish to almost black, polished, paleate towards base; 30-70-(90) cm. long. Rhachis and secondary rhachides stout, polished, dark brown to almost black, ± hispid to pubescent, ± flexuose. Lamina dark green, firm, glab. or sparsely hairy, broadly deltoid, 3-4- pinnate, 30-70-(90) × 30-50 cm. Primary pinnae alt., 15-30-(40) × 10-20-(30) cm.; lower deltoid to ovate-lanceolate, again pinnate to bipinnate; upper with basal shorter pinnae. Secondary pinnae up to 15 × 3 cm., ovate-lanceolate; tertiary pinnae up to 3 × 1 cm. Pinnules numerous, rather close-set, stalked, dimidiate-oblong to subrhomboid, up to 15 × 5 mm.; lower margin entire, straight to concave or concave- convex; upper margin with alt. shallow and rather deep crenate lobes. Sporangia in sinuses of shallow lobes, protected by lunulate to oblong-or orbicular-reniform reflexed margins 1·5-2 mm. long, c. 8 groups per pinnule.

DIST.: N. Lowland forest on alluvial soil: Reef Point, Herekino, Northern Wairoa R.; Manawatu R. and tributaries. Also in E. Australia.