Lecanopteris novae-zealandiae (Baker) Perrie & Brownsey

Epiphytic or occasionally terrestrial; creeping or climbing ferns. Rhizomes long-creeping, 4–10 mm diameter, scaly. Rhizome scales clathrate, ovate, 5–15 mm long, 1.5–2.5 mm wide, squarrose, orange-brown, virtually entire. Roots of one type, lacking laterally inserted and clasping roots. Fronds 150–900 mm long. Stipes 40–330 mm long, pale brown, glabrous except for very scattered scales at base. Laminae deeply 1-pinnatifid to almost pinnate at base, ovate to elliptic, 100–470 mm long, 60–270 mm wide, alate for 5–20 mm below the lowest lobe, bright green, coriaceous, glabrous. Lamina lobes in 1–25 pairs, 45–180 mm long, 5–15 mm wide, straight or slightly falcate, acuminate, margins entire or wavy, widest at or below middle. Veins reticulate, forming 1–2 series of areoles between costa and lobe margin; hydathodes present but inconspicuous on adaxial surface of lamina. Sori round or slightly elongate, 2–4 mm long, superficial or impressed into lamina forming low bulges on adaxial surface, in 1 row on either side of the costa, closer to the margin; paraphyses absent; exindusiate.

Lecanopteris novae-zealandiae can be confused with L. pustulata, especially when young. However, it is generally a larger plant, rarely if ever produces undivided fronds, and has very distinctive spreading, orange-brown rhizome scales. Hydathodes on the adaxial lamina surface are present but inconspicuous. The thicker rhizomes (>4 mm diameter), distinctive rhizome scales, coriaceous lamina and bright green colour distinguish it from Lecanopteris scandens.

Lecanopteris novae-zealandiae is usually epiphytic, or occasionally found on fallen logs, in damp montane forests of the North Island. It is found in a range of podocarp, beech and broadleaved forest.

n = 37 (de Lange et al. 2004).