100 
New Zealand Ferns 
VI. ALSOPHILA 
ALSOPHILA (alsos, grove; philo, love). A 
genus of about 120 species, with one in New Zealand. 
Tree-ferns mostly tropical; the stem low or prostrate on 
the ground. A mountain species ; the seed-covering alto- 
gether absent. 
A. COLENSOI 
( 36 ) A. Colensoi (Mr. Colenso). “The Golden 
Tree Fern.” A semi-prostate tree-fern found on the 
mountains of the interior. 
Description . — Stem long, prostrate, rooting, seldom more than 
8 inches in circumference, sometimes erect or ascending at the tip 
and attaining a height of 3 to 5 feet. Stalks short, densely cov- 
ered with pale-brown scales. Fronds 2 to 5 feet long by f to 
2 feet broad, membranous, yellowish-green or reddish-brown. 
Seeds conspicuous. Upper part of stalks and midribs thickly 
clothed with red-brown hairs intermixed with pale-coloured 
scales. 
North Island: Mountains of the interior from Hikurangi and 
Mount Egmont southwards. South Island: Not uncommon in 
the sub-alpine forests throughout. Usually between 2,000 and 
4,000 feet, descending to low levels in South Otago. 
The hardiest of our tree-ferns; easily cultivated. Con- 
fined to New Zealand. 
