450 Transactions. — Botany. 



the centre stem of the frond, or rather spray, are of a 

 yellowish-brown colour. The pinnae divide generally into three 

 pinnules — two lateral ones placed alternately and stalked or 

 narrowly webbed, and a terminal one. These pinnules are 

 from l^in. to Hin. long by fin. broad, palmately and very 

 deeply cut into long, narrow, ovately-pointed lobes. Their 

 edges are very finely and rather deeply serrated ; the veins 

 numerous, free, and forked ; texture extremely thin, and 

 almost diaphanous ; colour, shining yellowish-green. 



Mr. Cheeseman seems very doubtful whether the plant is 

 really a native of New Zealand, and I have sent him the 

 specimen given me by Mrs. Wilson, in order that he may 

 ascertain whether such a fern is known to nurserymen and 

 others at Auckland, or to persons who have visited the 

 Pacific Islands. The reason for his doubt appears to be the 

 improbability of so lovely a plant having escaped notice, in 

 localities so much visited as Eotorua and Waiwera, and, if it 

 occurs at places so wide asunder, its not having been met 

 with in the intervening country. But then the question 

 naturally arises, If it is not a New Zealand plant, whence has 

 it come ? Mrs. Wilson, in a postscript to her first letter to me, 

 says that it was mentioned by Mr. Dobie, in his book published 

 several years ago, under the name of Pteris dichotoma ; but 

 no fern of that name is described in the " Synopsis." Un- 

 fortunately, neither of the specimens which I have seen, or 

 of which I can obtain particulars, is fertile ; so that I am 

 unable to describe the fructification, which, however, judging 

 by the resemblance of the fern to Lygodium palmatum, will 

 probably consist of merely linear divisions, carrying the cap- 

 sules on their sides. 



The accompanying specimen is a very shabby one, but it is 

 the best which I have available ; and, at all events, it will 

 serve to show the character of the fern, wbich is of a different 

 family of Lygodium from L. articulatum. 



