Laing. — The Norfolk Island Species of Pteris. 231 



•of the stipes, &c. They are quite distinct in appearance, and not likely to 

 be confused. These points are mostly noted in the detailed description of 

 Endlicher, and I have little hesitation in stating that the species P. Kingiana 

 will have to be revived. The following is the fuller description of the species 

 as given by Endlicher : " Filix subbipedalis, stipite pennae columbinae 

 crassitie rubro-fiisco, glaberrimo, nitido, antice profunde sulcato. Frons 

 coriacea glaberrima, 3-partita. Rami pinnati ; pinnis pinnatifidis ; 

 laterales in specimine observato 9-pollices longi, erecto-patentes, utrinque 

 pinnis 3^ onusti ; pinnae approximatim alternae, sub-sexpolhcares, in- 

 ferior supremi et infimi paris dimidio fere brevior v. plane nana. Rami 

 medii pinnae alternatim collaterals, utrinque 5-6 erecto-patentes, omnes 

 usque ad costam pinuatifidae. Laciniae coriaceae lineari - subfalcatae 

 acutiusculae integerrimae glaberrimae suboppositae, rami medii pollicares, 

 2J lineam latae, lateralium 7-lineas longae, latitudine 3-lineari, obtusi- 

 usculae, omnes basi deorsu.m dilatatae sinu acuto disjunctae ; terminalis 

 elongata. Nerviis laciniarum prominulus, venulas alternas, prope basim 

 late 2-furca8 exserens. Indusia membranacea, ^ lineam lata, paullo supra 

 basim laciniae axorta, infra apicem desinentia." 



This is readily distinguished from P. Iremula by its much smaller size, 

 much more broadly deltoid frond, much more coriaceous texture, smaller 

 number of (3-4) pinnae on each side. The pinnules also are quite distinct 

 from those of P. tremula, being much more falcate in outline, less rounded 

 at the tips, and increasing in breadth towards the base. Hooker a,.nd 

 Baker (Syn. Fil., p. 161) refer to P. Kingiana as a variety (B) of P. tremula 

 " with the ultimate segments larger, sometimes 1^ in. long, nearly ^ in. 

 broad, without being toothed " ; and state it " was originally published 

 from Norfolk Island, but some New Zealand specimens agree with it." 



I do not understand this except on the assumption that the form they 

 describe is a form of P. tremula,, as it might well be, and not of P. Kingiana. 

 I have seen nothing from New Zealand at all matching P. Kingiana. 



(c.) Pteris biaurita L. var. quadriaurita = ? Pteris Trattinickiana EndL, 



No. 42. 



This appears to me to be a form coming very close to the preceding. 

 Maiden considers it as possibly the same as the widespread subtropical 

 P. quadriaurita, which it undoubtedly closely resembles. Endlicher's 

 diagnosis is as follows : " P. Trattinickiana, frondis membranacea 3-partitae 

 ramis pinnatis, pinnis pinnatifidis, laciniis oblongo-linearibus obtusis dis- 

 cretis, argute serrulatis, venulis furcatis, soris interruptis." 



In P. Kingiana the non-fertile portions of the frond are either entire 

 or only slightly serrulate at the tips; in this form they are regularly 

 serrulate throughout. In P. Kingiana the pinnae are exceptionally more 

 than 4 on each side ; in this they are usually 5 or 6. The pinnules in 

 P. Kingiana are subfalcate ; here they are oblong. The frond is also much 

 more membranous than in P. Kingiana. It will thus be seen that it is 

 intermediate between P. Kingiana and P. tremula, but in general outline 

 and character of frond and pinnules it approaches much more nearly to 

 the former than to the latter. 



A note is necessary regarding the indusia. They are thus described 

 by Endlicher: "Indusia membranacea, interrupta, saepius unilateralia." 

 In this form and the preceding, very frequently towards the apex of the 

 pinna the sorus is formed only on one side of the pinnule, and is much 



