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Manual of the New Zealand Flora.

20. Nephrodium, Rich

20. Nephrodium, Rich.

Rhizome short and tufted or long and creeping. Fronds crowded at the top of the rhizome or scattered along it, very various in size and form, frequently pinnate with the Pinnæ pinnatifid, or 2–3-pinnate or decompound. Veins all free, or the lower veinlets in a lobe united by their tips to those of the adjoining lobes, or (in species not found in New Zealand) copiously anastomosing. Sori subglobose, dorsal, placed on the back or at the tip of a vein. Indusium cordate or reniform, attached by the sinus, membranous, concealing the sorus when young. Sporangia stalked, surrounded by an incomplete vertical ring, bursting transversely.

Understood in the sense of the "Synopsis Filicum," this is the largest genus of ferns after Polypodium, including over 400 species, and quits cosmopolitan in its distribution. Of the 8 species found in New Zealand, 6 are widely spread, 1 extends to Australia alone, the remaining 1 appears to be endemic.

Subgenus I. Lastrea. Veins and veinlets all free.

* Fronds lanceolate or linear-oblong, pinnate with the pinnæ pinnatifid.

Rhizome long, creeping. Fronds 6–12 in. long, membranous, glabrous except a few scales on the under-surface of the rhachis and costæ 1. N. Thelypteris.

** Fronds broadly ovate or deltoid, 2–3-pinnate or decompound.

Rhizome long, creeping. Fronds 9–18 in., pale-green, finely pubescent. Stipes pubescent 2. N. decompositum.
Rhizome short, tufted. Fronds 6–14 in., dark-green, glabrous except the rhachis and costæ. Stipes nearly glabrous 3. N. glabellum.page 1002
Rhizome short, tufted. Fronds 9–18 in., reddish-brown, both surfaces clothed with short velvety pubescence 4. N. velutinum.
Rhizome short. Fronds 1–3 ft., ovate or ovate-lanceolate, pale-green, membranous; rhachises and under-surface with fine spreading hairs 5. N. setigerum.
Rhizome long, stout, creeping. Fronds 1–2 ft., ovate deltoid, coriaceous, finely 2–4-pinnate. Stipes and rhachis densely hispid with rigid linear bristles 6. N. hispidum.

Subgenus II. Eunephbodium. Veins in regular pinnate groups, the lower veinlets of each group united at the tips with those of the adjoining, groups.

Rhizome long, creeping. Fronds 6–18 in., rather rigid; lower Pinnæ not reduced in size 7. N. unitum.
Rhizome short. Fronds 1–3 ft., soft and membranous, finely pilose; loser pinnæ gradually reduced in size 8. N. molle.
1.N. Thelypteris, Desv. in Mèm. Soc. Linn. vi. 257; var. squamulosum, Schlecht. Fil. Cap. 23, t. 11.—Rhizome long, slender, creeping, branched. Stipes 4–12 in. long, slender, straw-coloured, darker at the base, smooth, naked or slightly scaly when young. Fronds scattered along the rhizome, 6–12 in. long without the stipes, rarely more, 2–5 in. broad, linear-oblong or lanceolate, acuminate, truncate at the base, pale-green, membranous, glabrous except the costæ and rhachis which are sparsely clothed beneath with pale broad convex scales, pinnate. Pinnæ opposite or nearly so, 1–2 ½ in. long, ⅓–½ in. broad, linear-oblong, deeply pinnatifid. Segments ⅙–¼ in. long, oblong, obtuse or subacute, quite entire, broader and flatter in the sterile frond than in the fertile. Veins free, the lower or nearly all forked. Sori numerous, small, in two rows, rather nearer the recurved margin than the midrib. Indusium cordate-reniform, glandular-ciliate.—Hook. Sp. Fil. iv. 88; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 377; Hook, and Bak. Syn. Fil. 271; Thoms. N.Z. Ferns, 81; Field, N.Z. Ferns, 130, t. 13, f. 3. N. squamulosum, Hook.f. Fl. Nov. Zel. ii. 39.

North Island: Marshes from the North Cape to the East Cape, Taupo,. Whanganui, and Otaki, but often local. Sea-level to 2000 ft.

The typical form of the species is found in Europe, north Asia, the Himalayas, and North America; the var. squamulosum, which differs chiefly in the scales on the under-side of the rhachis and costee, appears to be confined to New Zealand and South Africa.

2.N. decompositum, R. Br. Prodr. 149. — Rhizome long, slender, creeping, branched, more or less clothed with chaffy scales. Stipes 6–18 in. long, firm, erect, scaly towards the base, villous-pubescent above. Fronds scattered along the rhizome, not. tufted, 9–18 in. long without the stipes, often almost as broad, ovate-deltoid or pentangular, acuminate, membranous or subcoriaceous, pale-green, more or less finely villous or pubescent, 2-pinnate above, 3-pinnate below; rhachis and costæ slender, villous-pubescent. Primary Pinnæ 4–9 in. long; the lowest pair page 1003much the largest, unequally deltoid with the basal secondary pinna on each side much longer than the rest; upper pinnæ gradually smaller, ovate-lanceolate. Secondary pinnæ lanceolate, deeply pinnatifid or the lower again pinnate; ultimate segments close, unequal - sided, ovate - rhomboid to lanceolate - rhomboid, acutely toothed or lobed. Sori rather large, distant, nearer the margin than the midrib. Indusium orbicular-reniform.—Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. ii. 39, t. 79; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 378; Hook. Sp. Fil. iv. 146; Hook. and Bak. Syn. Fil. 281; Thoms. N.Z. Ferns, 82; Field, N.Z. Ferns, 131, t. 5, f. 7. N. pentangularum, Col. in. Tasmanian Journ. Nat. Sci. (1845) 9. Aspidium decompositum, Spreng. Syst. iv. 109; Benth. Fl. Austral. vii. 758.

Kermadec Islands, North and South Islands, Chatham Islands: Not uncommon in lowland districts, usually in rich alluvial soils. Sea-level to 1200 ft.

An abundant Australian plant, ranging from the north of Queensland to Tasmania, also in Norfolk Island.

3.N. glabellum, A. Cunn. Precur. n. 224.—Rhizome short, stout, tufted, clothed with the bases of the old stipites intermixed with subulate scales. Stipes 4–10 in. long, slender, firm, scaly at the base, glabrous or nearly so above. Fronds tufted at the top of the rhizome, 6–14 in. long or more without the stipes, 4–10 in. broad, ovate-deltoid, acuminate, membranous but firm, dark-green, 2–3-pinnate; surfaces almost glabrous except the rhachis and costæ, which are more or less clothed with short reddish pubescence. Primary Pinnæ 2–5 in. long; the lowest pair the largest, deltoid, not so unequal-sided as in N. decompositum, and the basal secondary Pinnæ not conspicuously longer than the rest; upper Pinnæ lanceolate, acuminate; secondary rhachises margined throughout. Secondary Pinnæ obliquely ovate-lanceolate or lanceolate, deeply pinnatifid or the lower again pinnate; ultimate segments ovate or oblong, sharply toothed or lobed. Sori distant, about half-way between the margin and the midrib. Indusium pale, orbicular-reniform.—Raoul, Choix, 38; Kirk in Trans. N.Z. Inst. x. (1878) 398; Thoms. N.Z. Ferns, 82; Field, N.Z. Ferns, 131, t. 6, f. 3. N. decompositum var. pubescens, Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. ii. 39. N. decompositum var. microphyllum, Hook. Sp. Fil. iv. 146. N. decompositum var. glabellum, Hook, and Bak. Syn. Fil. 281.

North and South Islands: In dry woods from the North Cape to Foveaux Strait, not uncommon. Sea-level to 1500 ft.

Also in Australia and several of the Polynesian islands. Closely allied to N. decompositum, but sufficiently distinct in the short (not creeping) rhizome, the nearly glabrous stipes, the smaller dark-green and glossy tufted fronds, with a narrower outline, and with the surfaces glabrous except a reddish pubescence on the rhachis and costæ.

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4.N. velutinum, Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. ii. 39, t. 80.—Rhizome short, stout, erect. Stipes 9–18 in. long, firm, erect, densely villose-pubescent above, clothed at; the base with large red-brown subulate scales. Fronds tufted at the top of the rhizome, 9–18 in. long, almost the same in breadth, broadly deltoid or pentangular, acuminate, reddish-brown, soft and membranous, clothed on both surfaces with copious short silky hairs, 2–3-pinnate or in large specimens 4-pinnate at the base; rhachises densely silky. Lower primary Pinnæ much the largest, 6–12 in. long, deltoid, the lowest secondary pinna much longer than the rest and deflexed; upper pinnæ gradually smaller, oblong-deltoid to lanceolate-deltoid, acuminate. Secondary pinnæ close, numerous, lanceolate, deeply pinnatifid or again pinnate. Pinnules oblong-ovate or oblong, obtuse, deeply obtusely lobed or pinnatifid. Sori rather small, copious; indusiurn pubescent, often glandular.—Handb. N.Z. Fl. 378; Hook. Sp. Fil. iii. 145; Hook, and Bak. Syn. Fil. 281; Thoms. N.Z. Ferns, 83; Field, N.Z. Ferns, 132, t. 20, f. 2. Aspidium velutinum, A. Rich. Fl. Nouv. Zel. 70; A. Cunn. Precur. n. 222; Raoul, Choix, 38.

North and South Islands: Dry woods from the North Cape to Otago, but rather local in the South Island. Sea-level to 1000 ft.

Allied to N. decompositum, but easily separated by the more membranous, and flaccid reddish-brown fronds, densely clothed with a short velvety pubescence. Apparently confined to New Zealand.

5.N. setigerum, Bak. Syn. Fil. 284.—Rhizome short. Stipes 1–2 ft. long or more, firm, erect, straw-coloured, slightly paleaceous at the base, smooth and glabrous above. Fronds tufted, 1–3 ft., long, 9–18 in. broad, ovate or ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, pale-green, membranous, 2–3-pinnate; main rhachis stramineous, naked towards the base, densely clothed with fibrillose hairs above, as are the secondary rhachises; under-surface of frond and veins hispid with long white spreading needle-like hairs. Lower primary pinnse. 9–12 in. long, ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, the upper gradually smaller and narrower; secondary pinnse lanceolate, deeply pin natifid or again pinnate. Pinnules ⅙–¼ in. long, linear - oblong, obtuse, deeply lobed or pinnatifid, the margins usually recurved. Sori small, copious, 6–10 to a pinnule. Indusium small, soon deciduous.—N. tenericaule, Hook. Sp. Fil iv. 142, t. 269; Cheesem. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xx. (1888) 178.

Kermadec Islands: Ravines on the north side of Sunday Island, not uncommon, T. F. C.

Abundant throughout Polynesia, and ranging from tropical Australia to Malaya, India, China, and Japan.

6.N. hispidum, Hook. Sp. Fil. iv. 150.—Rhizome long, stout, creeping, densely clothed with subulate red-brown scales. Stipes 9–18 in. long, stout, erect, brown, everywhere hispid with long page 1005rigid linear spreading bristles with a swollen base. Fronds 9–18 in. long or more, 6–12 in. broad, broadly ovate or triangular, acuminate, brownish-green, coriaceous, 3–4-pinnate; primary and secondary rhachises bristly like the stipes. Primary Pinnæ 3–8 in. long, ovate-lanceolate or the lowest deltoid, acuminate, the lowest pinnule larger than the others. Secondary pinnæ oblong-lanceolate, again 1-or 2-pinnate. Pinnules ¼–½ in. long, narrow-lanceolate. acute, deeply and acutely toothed or almost pinnatifid, the teeth often pungent. Sori large, copious, one to each of the ultimate segments or lobes. Indusium orbicular with an indistinct sinus, flat, brown.—Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 378; Hook, and Bak. Syn. Fil. 286; Benth. Fl. Austral. vii. 760; Thorns. N.Z. Ferns, 83; Field, N.Z. Ferns, 132, t. 3, f. 3. Aspidium hispidum, Swartz, Syn. Fil. 56; A. Rich. Fl. Nouv. Zel. 69; A. Cunn. Precur. n. 221; Raoul, Choix, 38. Polystichum hispidum, J. Sm. Gen. Ferns, 83; Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. ii. 38. Polypodium setosum, Forst. Prodr. n. 447.

North and South Islands, Stewart Island, Chatham Islands: Abund ant in forests throughout. Sea-level to 2000 ft.

A very distinct species, at once recognised by the finely divided frond and the numerous stiff spreading bristles on the stipes and rhachis. It is also found in Victoria, where, however, it is rare and local.

7.N. unitum, R. Br. Prodr. 148.—Rhizome long, stout, creeping, sparingly clothed with blackish-brown scales. Stipes 6–14 in-long, smooth, erect, almost black at the base, brownish above, naked or with a few chaffy scales. Fronds 6–18 in. long without the stipes, 3–9 in. broad, oblong or ovate-oblong, acuminate, somewhat rigid, coriaceous, glabrous, pinnate; rhachis smooth, naked. Pinnæ 9–15 pairs, subopposite, ascending or spreading, the lower ones not reduced in size, 2–5 in. long, ⅓–½ in. broad, linear-lanceolate, pinnatifid from ⅓ to ½ the way to the midrib; lobes spreading, ovate or ovate-triangular, subacute or obtuse, entire or nearly so. Veins pinnate in each lobe; veinlets 6–8 on each side, the lower-ones united at the tips with those of the adjoining lobes. Sori copious, nearer the margin than the midrib, mostly placed in the lobes, but usually extending below them as well.—Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 749; Hook, and Bak. Syn. Fil. 289; Thoms. N.Z. Ferns, 83; Field, N.Z. Ferns, 134, t. 23, f. 1. N. inæquilaterum, Col. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xx. (1888) 229. Aspidium unitum, Swartz, Syn. Fil. 47; Benth. Fl. Austral. vii. 755.

North Island: Swa.mps in the North Cape district, at Houboura, Waihi, Eangaunu Harbour, Ahipara, &c, J. B. Simpson! R. H. Matthews! T. F.C.; hot springs at Miranda, Thames, J. Adams! hot-water swarnps in the Thermal-springs district, not uncommon from Maketu and Rotorua to Waiotapu, Roto-kawa, Wairakei, and Tokaanu, Captain G. Mair! Kirk! T. F. C. Norton! Field, &c. Sea-level to 1800 ft.

An abundant fern in most tropical and warm-temperate countries.

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8.N. molle, Desv. in Mem. Linn. Soc. vi. 258.—Rhizome very shortly creeping or tufted and erect, densely rooting. Stipes 9–24 in. long, slender, greenish, naked or pubescent with soft spreading hairs. Fronds 1–3 ft. long, 6–12 in. broad, oblong-lanceolate, acuminate, gradually narrowed at the base, pale-green, membranous and flaccid, sparingly pilose on both surfaces or almost glabrous when old, pinnate; rhachis pale, pilose with spreading hairs. Pinnæ numerous, the lower ones gradually dwarfed, spreading, sessile, 3–6 in. long, about ¾ in. broad, lanceolate, acuminate, pinnatifid about half-way to the midrib; lobes short, oblong, obtuse, entire or nearly so. Veins pinnate in the lobes; veinlets 5–8 on each side, the lower ones uniting at the tips with those of the adjoining lobes. Sori copious, about half-way between the margin and the midrib. Indusium cordate-reniform, usually villous.— Hook. Sp. Fil. iv. 67; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 377; Hook, and Bak. Syn. Fil. 293; Thoms. N.Z. Ferns, 84; Field, N.Z. Ferns, 133, t. 23, f. 5. Aspidium molle, Swartz, Syn. Fil. 49; Benth. Fl. Austral. vii. 756. Polypodium nymphale, Forst. Prodr. 442.

Kermadec Islands: Sunday Island, not uncommon, MacGillivray, T. F. C. North Island: Auckland—North Cape district, a small patch by the side of the Mangatefce Stream, flowing into Rangaunu Harbour, R. E. Matthews! Thermal-springs district, by the banks of the Otumakokori, or Boiling River (near Waiotapu), Captain G. Mair! T. F. C. Kirk! margins of hot springs at Wairakei (Taupo), C. J. Norton! T. F. C.

Abundant in tropical and warm temperate countries almost throughout the world.