Flora of New Zealand Series

Acrostichum dichotomum L. Sp. Pl. 1753, 1068.

Fan fern.

Rhizome up to 10 mm. diam., clad in dark brown hairs. Stipes (including branches) 15-35 cm. long, about 1 mm. diam., smooth, erect, strict, channelled; branches dichotomous, 4-10 or more, up to 10 cm. long, rather broadly winged, flabellately arranged, with spread of 5-10 cm. or more, narrowed to laminae. Laminae 3-5 mm. long; segs stalked, spreading, about 2 mm. long, fringed. Sporangia distinctly under 0·5 mm. diam.

DIST.: N. Lowland forests and near hot springs from lat. 35º to a little south of 38º. Widespread in tropical to warm-temperate regions. S. There is a specimen in the Armstrong herbarium labelled as collected (the only one found) in 1867 "on the track from Purau to Akaroa beneath a totara" (see Wall in Rec. Canterbury Mus. 4, 1935, 104).