92 Transactions. 



Another specimen shows a strangely lobed form ; several of the lobes are 

 so folded in since drying as to become hidden. 



It has struck me as possible at least that some of these curious forms of 

 A. lucidum are states between the type and var. Lyallii, but I know too little 

 of the latter to do more than suggest the idea, in the hope that some one else 

 may come forward with an opinion on the point. 



A . Hookerianum : Several very puzzling states occur which are difficult 

 to distinguish from A. btdbiferum. I think there is no doubt that these two 

 species, in some of their forms, pass into one another, so that it is practically 

 impossible to distinguish the form as belonging to the one or the other. 



A. bulbiferum : Though so varied in form, this fern does not seem to pro- 

 duce much in the way of abnormalities, the most common being the forking 

 of the apex of the frond or of some of the pinnae. 



Neph/r odium. 



N. decompositum and N. glabellvm not uncommonly have the upper part 

 of the frond forked. The ultimate segments of the lower pinnae, too, often 

 show this form. 



In several places about here is a crested form of N. glabellum, usually 

 smaller than the type, and more finely cut. 



Polypodium. 



In P. pennigerum it is not uncommon to find the upper part of the frond 

 forked. A curious form of this fern was collected in the Aponga (Whangarei) 

 district by the late Mr. Andrew Thompson in January, 1905, and in this 

 district by myself some months later. The peculiarity is that at the base of 

 each pinna, from the middle of the frond, or higher, downwards there are 

 two accessory pinnules, one on the upper and one on the lower side, the 

 upper one being about 2 in. and the lower 1 in. long. Mr. Cheeseman, re- 

 ferring to this, says, * The Poly podium pennigerum with the accessory 

 pinnule at the base of the primary pinnae is quite new to me. If it were con- 

 stant and prevalent in any particular locality it would be worth noticing as 

 a variety." 



P. serpens occasionally show a wonderful development of rhizome. In 

 specimens gathered near here the creeping rhizomes are divided into 4-8 main 

 branches ; these branches are again and again divided, ending in from 

 40 to 200 growing points, the conglomerate growth thus formed being 2-4 in. 

 long from the branching to the growing points, and about the same width. 

 I have not noticed this strange growth in any other fern, and am unable to 

 suggest any reason for it. 



A very unusual state of P. dictyopteris occurs, in which, in place of 

 the ordinary lanceolate or linear-lanceolate form, the frond is more or less 

 broadened, and the margin broken up into numerous elongated lobes, giving 

 the fern a general resemblance to some forms of P. Billardieri. It is twenty- 

 six years since I first saw this form, on Mount Maungatapere, near Whangarei, 

 and it was not until last year that I again met with it, in two places in this 

 district. 



With regard to P. 'pustvUatum, it is difficult to decide which form is typical 

 and which abnormal. I think most of them are abnormal. Still. I sup- 

 pose we may take as typical the small form 3-9 in. long, quite entire and 

 simple, and the larger pinnatifid form. That being so, the forms with 

 forked fronds must be abnormal, and there seems to be no end to the curious 



