348 
New Zealand Ferns 
( 143 ) G. flabellatu (fan-like). A very beautiful fern 
with leaves spreading fan-wise. Found only to the north 
of Auckland; easily recognised by the long narrow divi- 
sions, like the teeth of a comb. 
Description . — Root long, stout, branched, more or less clothed 
with reddish scales. Stalks erect, cylindrical, hard and smooth. 
Fronds several times forked in pairs, branches slanting upwards, 
not horizontal, sometimes superimposed in tiers, from 1 to 4 feet 
high, dark shining-green. Seeds copious, in groups, usually three 
to five. 
From the North Cape to the Bay of Islands, not uncommon 
by the sides of streams, etc. Southwards to the Thames 'and 
Manukau Harbour, rare and local. Great Barrier, Coromandel 
Peninsula. 
Mr. Thomson reports this very beautiful species as 
easily cultivated, requiring black sandy loam, good drain- 
age, plenty of pot room, and an abundance of water. 
“In Kew Gardens a plant of this species has attained a 
circumference of 12 to 13 feet, with fronds 4^ feet 
high.” Mr. Field describes it as difficult to grow; my ex- 
perience is the opposite. In the outdoor fernery it has 
grown luxuriantly, as may be seen in the illustration on 
the paper wrapper. A potted plant, growing in the house 
flourished for a time and then died. A frond from this 
plant is reproduced in the illustration. 
The growth is interesting. A slender stalk rises per- 
pendicularly with a grey-green crook at the top, which 
presently separates into two, and these again divide, 
thus looking like a bird’s inverted foot with four claws. 
The young fronds are very thin, with a shining surface 
like satin. The plant usually grows on alluvial soil by 
the sides of streams, sometimes in the open fully exposed 
to sun and wind. I have also found it high up on a 
steep hillside, growing in poor white clay. It is found 
also in Australia, Tasmania, and New Caledonia. 
