in size, usually 4–8 in. high including the stipes, but sometimes dwarfed to 1 in., and occasionally attaining 12 in., ovate-lanceolate to oblong-ovate or deltoid, acute or acuminate, erect or decurved or even pendulous, dark olive-green to light-green, membranous, 3–4-pinnatifid. Stipes 1–5 in. long, terete, wiry, naked; rhachis narrowly winged above. Primary pinnæ close and often over-lapping in terrestrial specimens, more remote in those growing on trees, rhomboidal-lanceolate, cut down to a rather broadly winged rhachis into numerous secondary divisions, which are again pinnatifid or 2-pinnatifid. Ultimate segments linear, rigid, obtuse, deeply spinulose-dentate. Sori few, large, mostly in the upper part of the frond, terminating very short lateral segments, often appearing quite axillary, free. Indusium erect or decurved, obovoid, tubular below, 2-valved to the middle; valves entire or denticulate.—A. Cunn. Precur. n. 240; Raoul, Choix, 39; Hook. and Grev. Ic. Fil. t. 167; Hook. Sp. Fil. i. 98; Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. ii. 12; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 353; Hook. and Bak. Syn. Fil. 69; Thoms. N.Z. Ferns, 37; Field, N.Z. Ferns, 66, t. 19, f. 8. H. truncatum, Col. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxiii. (1891) 390. H. alpinum. Col. l.c. xxxi. (1899) 263. H. oligocarpum, Col. l.c. xxxi. (1899) 264. Trichomanes multifidum, Forst. Prodr. n. 473.
North and South Islands, Stewart Island, Chatham Islands, Auckland and Campbell Islands, Antipodes Island: Abundant throughout. Sea-level to 4000 ft.
Varying greatly in size and habit, but always easily recognised by the very peculiar indusium. It is also found in Fiji and others of the Pacific islands.
20. H. bivalve, Swartz, Syn. Fil. 146, 372.—Forming large matted patches on the ground among moss, more rarely epiphytical. Rhizome stout, wiry, creeping; rootlets densely villous. Fronds (including the stipes) usually from 6–9 in. high, 2–4 in. broad, but luxuriant specimens reach 12–14 in., with a breadth of 6 in., broadly ovate or deltoid, acuminate, rather rigid, often decurved, 3–4-pinnatifid. Stipes 2–5 in. long, terete, wiry, glabrous, not winged; rhachis narrowly winged above. Primary pinnæ triangular or ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, cut down almost to the rhachis into rhomboidal-lanceolate secondary divisions, which are again pinnatifid or 2-pinnatifid. Ultimate segments narrow-linear, obtuse, deeply spinulose-dentate. Sori usually numerous, terminal on the segments, immersed at the base. Indusium ovate or ovate-orbicular, cuneate below, 2-valved nearly to the base; valves quite entire.— A. Rich. Fl. Nouv. Zel. 93; A. Cunn. Precur. n. 244; Raoul, Choix, 39; Hook. Syn. Fil. i. 98, t. 35d; Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. ii. 12; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 353; Hook. and Bak. Syn. Fil. 69; Thomson, N.Z. Ferns, 37; Field, N.Z. Ferns, 67, t. 17, f. 3. H. spathulatum, Col. in Tasmanian Journ. Nat. Sci. (1845) 24. Trichomanes bivalve, Forst. Prodr. n. 466.
