282 
New Zealand Ferns 
(no) ^ .capense (a native of the Cape). A remark- 
ably handsome fern, whether viewed closely or at a dis- 
tance. Most easily recognised by the large, circular, 
jet-black patches of seed. I have usually found it climb- 
ing trees, especially tree-ferns. 
Description . — Root long, stout, creeping, covered with large, 
tawny, silky scales. Stalks 1 to 2 feet long, stout, erect, more or 
less densely clothed with scales. Fronds scattered along the root, 
9 to 18 inches long, without the stalks, by 6 to 12 inches broad, 
texture very firm and rigid, smooth and shining on the upper 
surface, lighter below, brownish-green, bright-green, to golden- 
green. Seeds conspicuous, in two rows near the midrib, often 
covering the whole under surface. 
Abundant throughout the Dominion. 
The seeds at a certain stage of their growth are jet- 
black, giving the leaf a very remarkable appearance 
when viewed from below. The graceful frond stands 
out silhouetted against the sky, with row upon row of 
conspicuous seeds showing on the under side. It also 
differs from the other New Zealand species in having 
blunt rounded points to most of the leaflets, and the 
veins show so distinctly in dark-green lines on the upper 
surface as to greatly enrich its appearance. ( Seepage 237) 
It is a somewhat difficult species to transplant; I have 
found the best plan is to cut away some of the fibres in 
which the rootlets are embedded. Mr. Field recommends 
taking up a very young plant and transferring it to good 
vegetable mould, when it will thrive well. 
In the Auckland district it shows a preference for 
tree-ferns. The roots, rendered conspicuous by the thick 
