Dryopteris stewartii has an erect rhizome and 2-pinnate, ovate laminae, which are yellow-green in colour. The stipe scales are narrowly ovate and dark brown. The laminae are ± glabrous adaxially, with very scattered tiny flat scales abaxially. The secondary pinnae are adnate or sessile on the primary pinna costae, and deeply toothed on their margins. They decrease in size to the primary pinna apices. The sori are arranged in one row either side of the costae, protected by reniform indusia (Hoshizaki & Moran 2001).
North Island: Northland.
Altitudinal range: c. 10 m.
Collected once as a garden escape in Kerikeri.
Occurs naturally in Afghanistan, Nepal, Pakistan and India (Fraser-Jenkins et al. 2018).
Recorded as self-sown in the nest leaves of ×Aglaonaria robertsii near cultivated parent plant.
Heenan et al. (2008). Voucher AK 299450, 2006.