336 
New Zealand Ferns 
(137) G. leptophylla (slender-leaved). A tiny little 
fern, an annual, yet a world-wide plant. What with its 
small size and restricted season, it is very easily over- 
looked. 
Description . — Roots fibrous. Stalks -gin. to 3 inches long, 
slender, brittle, smooth and glossy, bright chestnut-brown. Fronds 
1 to 3 inches long by fin. to 1 inch broad, pale-green, shining, 
thin and membranous, quite smooth. Seeds oblong, upon the veins. 
North Island : Volcanic hills about Auckland, once not uncom- 
mon. now rare; Mount Maunganui, near Tauranga; East Coast 
district ; Ftawke’s Bay — Scinde Island ; Ruahine Ranges ; Wel- 
lington — Miramar. South Island : Canterbury — Lyttelton Har- 
bour, abundant ; Otago — near Dunedin ; Upper Clutha. Sea-level 
to 1,500 feet. 
I remember gathering this dainty little fern on Mount 
Smart (Rarotonga) near Auckland — then a shapely 
hill, now an ugly ruin, thanks to our Philistine Govern- 
ments. This fern is becoming scarcer each year, prob- 
ably eaten dow n by cattle and sheep. 
The fronds begin to sprout about February, last 
through the winter, perfect the seeds in spring, and die 
in summer. It is not difficult to cultivate, and sows itself 
annually. Found also in Europe, North and South 
Africa, Persia, India, Australia, and South America. 
