Lepidozia laevifolia var. acutiloba J.J.Engel
Holotype: New Zealand, South Is., Otago Prov., W slope of Flagstaff, NW of Dunedin, 560 m, Engel 17632 (F); isotype: (CHR).
Leaves weakly asymmetrical, ± equally 4(6)-lobed, divided to 0.35–0.5 (median sinus); leaf lobes broadly acute, the two dorsal lobes separated by a broad, often shallow sinus (45–90°), the disc 16–19 cells high at dorsal sinus, 6–10 cells high at ventral sinus; leaf margins often sinuate but rarely toothed; median disc cells small, 16–20 µm wide; underleaves shallowly lobed, the lobes acute to broadly acuminate.
Distribution and Ecology : Endemic to New Zealand: Stewart Island (5 m), South Island (560–1450 m), North Island (650–1300 m). Known from Fiordland, Southland, Otago, Westland, Canterbury, Volcanic Plateau and Gisborne EPs.
Typically an upper-elevation plant, occurring in Nothofagus menziesii scrub at treeline and extending into the penalpine and alpine zones. It occurs on damp ground, sometimes appearing as a pioneer, at other times between tussocks or over leaf litter under shrubs; also on damp cliff faces, rock outcrops and in rock crevices, etc. In the forest zone it may be terricolous or corticolous, as well as occurring on rotted logs, particularly where there has been soil accumulation. The variety occurs near sea level on Stewart Island over sandy soil in mosaic communities of stagnant ponds, Sphagnum bog, open Leptospermum scoparium – Dracophyllum heath to 1–2 m tall, and dense communities of Gleichenia dicarpa and Empodisma minus (track to Mason Bay, 1–1.8 km W of Freshwater Landing).
