322 
New Zealand Ferns 
(132) P. pustulatum (covered with pustules). An 
inveterate climber; fronds long, irregularly cut, droop- 
ing and tender; the rounded seeds, forming a conspicu- 
ous row parallel with the margin, give to the under side 
a rich, fruitful appearance. 
Description— Root very long, much branched, climbing up 
trunks of trees and over rocks, clothed everywhere with dark- 
brown scales. Stalks scattered along the root, 2 to 14 inches long, 
firm, slender, smooth. Fronds very variable in size and outline, 
dark-green, thin and membranous, quite smooth ; sometimes long 
and narrow, 3 to 9 inches by ^in. to fin., quite entire ; at other 
times irregularly forked, 6 to 18 inches long by 2 to 6 inches 
broad. Veins not very distinct, netted. Seeds rather small com- 
pared with P. Cnnninghamii and P. Billardieri, rounded, forming 
a parallel row with the margin and just within it, or overlapping 
it when ripe, sunk in a small cavity, which shows as a small bulge 
on the upper side of the leaf. 
Abundant in woods from the North Cape to Nelson, Marlbo- 
rough, and Westland; from thence to the south of Otago less 
plentiful. Sea-level to 2,500 feet. 
A beautiful, graceful species, notwithstanding the un- 
pleasant name with which it has been encumbered. Re- 
cently 1 came across one of those lovely pictures that 
only Nature can contrive. A fallen monarch of the 
forest lay prone upon the hillside, the unsightly ravages 
of age veiled under a cascade of the tender green fronds 
of this fern. It made me think hard things of the botan- 
ist who had cursed it with such a name. 
The fronds are fragrant when freshly dried, and w'ere 
formerly used by the Maoris for scenting oil. It is found 
also in Australia and Norfolk Island. 
