Asplenium polyodon. Peretao. Petako.
Māori names
Māori names
PETAKO, peretao, rautaia ([?] D'Urville, in Beever 1991).
Common names
Traditions
In John White 1887, vol iii, p3: Rata fells a tree, which the forest folk reerect on its stump, because their consent had not been obtained. Rata acknowledges this and says, "What you say is right; but I have a desire to make a canoe for myself, in which to go and avenge the death of my grandfather, who was killed by Pou-a-hao-kai (or Pou-a-ho-kai) and Matuku-tangotango." They answered, "It is well. Cut the tree down, and when it is felled go and get some pare-tao (Asplenium), and cover the stump with it. Then you may adze the trunk for a canoe." He did as instructed and made his canoe.....
Paretao refers also to A. oblongifolium(also widespread) and A. obtusatum(shore spleenwort)
Notes
Williams 1971 gives petako as the name for Asplenium falcatum
