pinnule, in 2 rows nearer the midrib than the margin. Indusium rather small, flat, orbicular.—Hook. Sp. Fil. iv. 22; Hook. and Bak. Syn. Fil. 252; Thoms. N.Z. Ferns, 78; Field, N.Z. Ferns, 126, t. 8, f. 2. A. vestitum, Swartz, Syn. Fil. 53, 254; A. Rich. Fl. Nouv. Zel. 68; A. Cunn. Precur. n. 218; Raoul, Choix, 38. A. proliferum, R. Br. Prodr. 147; A. Rich. Fl. Nouv. Zel. 69; A Cunn. Precur. n. 220. A. pulcherrimum and A. Waikarense, Col. in Tasmanian Journ. Nat. Sci. (1845) 6, 7. A. perelegans and A. zerophyilum, Col. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxix. (1897) 416, 418. Polystichum vestitum, Presl. Pteridogr. 177; Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. ii. 38; Homb. and Jacq. Voy. au Pôle Sud, Crypt. t. 4, f. S. P. venustum, Homb. and Jacq. i.c. t. 5, f. N.; Hook. f. Fl. Antarct. i. 106. Polypodium vestitum, Forst. Prodr. n. 445.
Var. sylvaticum.— Smaller and much more slender. Fronds few, 12–24 in. long including the stipes, not so coriaceous. Pinnæ fewer, more remote; pinnules more distinctly stipitate, narrower, ovate-lanceolate, pinnatifid; segments spinulose. Sori 6–8 to a pinnule; indusium not developed. Polypodium sylvaticum. Col. in Tasmanian Journ. Nat. Sci. (1845) 3; Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. ii. 41, t. 81; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 380; Hook. Sp. Fil. iv. 249.
North and South Islands, Chatham Islands, Stewart Island, Auckland and Campbell Islands, Antipodes Island, Macquarie Island: Rather local from Cape Colville to the East Cape, not uncommon in hilly districts from thence to Wellington, abundant to the south of Cook Strait. Sea-level to 3500 ft.
A. aculeatum, in some of its forms, is found in almost all parts of the world. The New Zealand variety, which is mainly distinguished by the copious large dark-coloured scales, which usually clothe not only the stipes but also the rhachis up to its tip, is also found in Australia, Tasmania, and Fuegia. It varies greatly in the size, shape, and texture of the frond, in the shape of the pinnules and the extent to which they are toothed or lobed, and in many other respects. The fronds are often bifid or crested at the tip, and are sometimes proliferous.
2. A. mohrioides, Bory. Voy. Duper. Crypt. 267, t. 35.—Rhizome short, stout, erect or oblique, densely clothed with blackish-brown glossy scales. Stipes stout, 2–6 in. long, more or less densely scaly. Fronds tufted at the top of the rhizome, 4–8 in. long, 1–3 in. broad, oblong-lanceolate, subacute, coriaceous, pinnate; rhachis stout, compressed, scaly. Pinnæ numerous, close-set and often imbricating, ¾–1½ in. long, ovate or ovate-lanceolate, pinnatifid above, pinnate toward the base. Pinnules about ¼ in. long, ovate or ovate-oblong, obtuse, slightly toothed; teeth obtuse or shortly mucronate. Sori copious, in 2 rows in the pinnules, often confluent when old. Indusium orbicular, dark-brown.—Hook. f. Fl. Antarct. ii. 392, t. 149; Hook. Sp. Fil. iv. 26; Hook. and Bak. Syn. Fil. 252; Kirk in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xiv. (1882) 386.
Auckland Islands: Kirk.
I have seen no specimens of this from the New Zealand area, and Mr. Kirk's notice in the Trans. N.Z. Inst., quoted above, is the only authority for including the species in the Flora. But as it occurs in Chili, Fuegia, the Falkland Islands, Prince Edward Island, and Marion Island, its existence in the Auckland and Campbell Islands may naturally be expected.
