Pteris.| FILICES. 971 
inner one often very inconspicuous.—Hook. Sp. Fil. ii. 196, t. 141; 
Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 363; Hook. and Bak. Syn. Ful. 162; 
Benth. Fl. Austral. vu. 7381; Thoms. N.Z. Ferns, 60; Field, N.Z. 
Ferns, 92, t. 14, f. 1, la. P. esculenta, Forst. Prodr. n. 418; Pl. 
Hiscul. 74; A. Rich. Fl. Now. Zel. 79; A. Cunn. Precur. n. 200 ; 
Raoul, Choix, 38. Pteridium aquilinum, Kuhn. 
KermapEc Isnanps, NortH AND SoutH IsLanps, CHATHAM ISLANDS, 
Stewart Isuanp, AUCKLAND AND CAMPBELL ISLANDS: Abundant throughout, 
except in dense forest, often covering extensive areas, especially in the North 
Island. Common fern; Bracken; Rau-aruhe ; Rahurahu ; of the root Aruhe, 
Roi. Sea-level to 4000 ft. 
P. aquilina, in some of its forms, is almost cosmopolitan; the variety 
esculenta, which chiefly differs in the decurrent bases of the pinnules, is confined 
to the Southern Hemisphere. The starchy rhizome formerly constituted one of 
the chief vegetable foods of the Maoris. For an account of the mode of its pre- 
paration, and many interesting particulars concerning its use, reference should 
be made to Mr. Colenso’s paper ‘‘ On the Vegetable Food of the Ancient New- 
Zealanders’ (Trans. N.Z. Inst. xiii., pp. 1-38.) 
9. P. scaberula, A. Rich. Fl. Nowv. Zel. 82, t. 11.—Rhizome 
wide-creeping, rigid, wiry, clothed with chestnut-brown scales. 
Stipes 4-12in. long, rigid, erect, yellow-brown or chestnut-brown, 
scabrous, glandular-pubescent and usually more or less bristly. 
Fronds 9-18in. high, rarely more, 4—-9in. broad, ovate or ovate- 
lanceolate, acuminate, rigid, coriaceous, pale yellow-green, usually 
copiously glandular-pubescent on both surfaces, rarely almost 
glabrate ; rhachis scabrous, flexuous. Primary pinne numerous, 
the lowest pair often distant, lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, 3-9 in. 
long; secondary lanceolate. Ultimate divisions small, 4,1 in. long, 
stipitate, acute, entire or the barren ones toothed or incised, often 
lobed or pinnatifid at the base; veins obscure. Sori copious, when 
mature usually covering the whole segment except the costa and 
the extreme tip and base.—dA. Cunn. Precur. n. 204; Raoul, Chow, 
38; Hook. Sp. Fil. 174, t. 934; Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. ii. 25; Handb. 
N.Z. Fl. 364; Hook. and Bak. Syn. Fil. 163; Thoms. N.Z. Ferns, 
61; Mield, N.Z. Ferns, 94, t. 19, f. 5. P. microphylla, A. Cunn. 
Precur. n. 206; Raoul, Choix, 38. Allosurus scaberulus, Presi. 
Posia scaberula, Kuhn. 
NortH AND SoutH IsLANDs, STEWART ISLAND, CHATHAM ISLANDS: Abundant 
throughout, usually on bank-sides, or in dry open places in woods. Sea-level 
to 2500 ft. 
Easily distinguished from the other species of the genus in New Zealand 
by the finely divided frond and minute coriaceous pinnules. In the North 
Island it quickly takes possession of the sides of road-cuttings in forest districts, 
often to the exclusion of other vegetation. 
3. P. tremula, R. Br. Prodr. 154.—Rhizome short, stout, sub- 
erect, putting up numerous tufted erect fronds. Stipes 1-2 ft. long, 
stout, erect, quite glabrous, smooth and polished, bright chestnut- 
