Laing. — Revised Lirt of the Norfolk Island Flora. 15 



33. Pteridium esculentum (Forst. f.) Cockayne. (= Pteris esculenta 



Fork, E. 36, M. 19.) 



Common. 



Kermadecs, Lord Howe, Australia, New Zealand, and southern Pacific. 



34. Vittaria elongata Sw., M. 4. (= V. rigida Kaulf., E. 35.) 



Common on tree-ferns. 

 Australia, Polynesia, eastern Asia. 



35. Cyclophorus confluens (R. Br.) C. Chr., M. 7. (— Niphobolus ser- 



pens Endl., E. 21 ; Polypodium serpens Forst., M. 6.) 



Abundant on tree-trunks. 



Lord Howe, Australia, New Caledonia. 



I do not think that C. serpens (Forst.) C. Chr. exists on the island. In 

 dry seasons in exposed position the fronds of C. confluens become narrower 

 and rounder, and simulate non-fertile fronds of C. serpens. Both kinds 

 of frond may be found on the one rhizome. I am quite satisfied there is 

 only one species of the genus on the island. In this opinion the late 

 Dr. Metcalf quite concurred. 



In C. confluens the veins anastomose ; the under-surface of the frond is 

 covered with a beautiful stellate pubescence. The non-fertile fronds are 

 from 2 in. to 8 in. long, linear to linear-lanceolate, and often acuminate. 

 Sori often confluent. 



36. Polypodium diversifolium Willd. (= P. Billardieri R. Br., E. 19 ; 



P. puslulatum Forst., M. 9.) 



Abundant in many situations. 



Lord Howe, Kermadecs, Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia. 



P. pustulatum Forst. does not occur on Norfolk Island, but P. diversi- 

 folium is everywhere abundant on rocks and trees, growing rather more 

 luxuriantly than in New Zealand. Polypodium phymatodes Linn., M. 10, 

 does not, I think, occur on the island. 



Marattiaceae. 



37. Marattia fraxinea Smith, M. 51. (= M. elegans Endl., E. 17.) 

 Not uncommon in the beds of creeks. 



New Caledonia, Australia, New Zealand, and widely, if the species is 

 interpreted in a broad sense. 



Ophioglossaceae. 



38. Ophioglossum vulgatum Linn. 



As this was not found by the earlier botanists, it may possibly — though 

 not probably — -have been introduced. I have retained the specific name 

 vulgatum, not caring to venture upon the definition of varieties without 

 fuller material and literature. 



Practically cosmopolitan. 



Lycopodiaceae. 



39. Tmesipteris tanensis Bernh., M. 2. (= T. Forsteri Endl., E. 16.) 

 A common epiphyte on tree-ferns. 



Kermadecs, New Zealand, Lord Howe, New Caledonia, Australia, 

 Polynesia 



