276 
New Zealand Ferns 
(108) A. Richardi (M. Richard). A prickly-look- 
ing species, harsh to the touch, clark-green ; the seeds 
when young covered by a circular disc with a black dot 
in the centre. 
Description . — Root short, thick, densely clothed with dark- 
brown scales. Stalks 6 to 18 inches long, more or less clothed 
with scales and woolly hairs. Fronds few, tufted, 9 to 18 inches 
long, without the stalks, by 3 to 9 inches broad, dark-green, some- 
times changing to red-brown towards the outer edges, lighter 
coloured beneath ; leaflets pointed finely, like prickles. Seeds cov- 
ered by a circular disc, in two rows on each leaflet, about midway 
between the midrib and the margin. 
From the North Cape to South Otago, not uncommon, especi- 
ally near the sea ; abundant in the King Country, unusually large 
and luxurious on Mokoia Island, Rotorua. 
A species easily grown, not averse to hot sunshine; 
one of those which sowed themselves in my garden. The 
unrolling crook is of a speckled grey colour, maturing 
quickly and soon producing seeds. Found also in Fiji. 
The young fronds of this fern show none of the 
harshness and rigidity of the mature plant; the grey 
stalks making a lovely contrast to the tender-green 
leaves; the black-green stripe shooting like a dart along 
each midrib adds much to the beauty of the frond. 
A very divergent form of this species is illustrated 
(io8a) from the West Coast, near Manukau Heads. 
The difference between the young plants as pictured 
(To8b) is very striking. 
