82 Transactions. 



18. Asplenium Linn. 



Twelve species in New Zealand, of which nine occur in the Mangonui 

 district. Various states of this beautiful family form a very characteristic 

 feature of the New Zealand forest. 



A. adiantoides C. Chr., perhaps better known as A. falcatum Lam., is 

 one of the handsomest ferns we have. It may often be seen pendent from 

 masses of Astdia in forest-trees ; usually the pendulous forms are more 

 elongated. I gathered a specimen near here which greatly exceeds the 

 dimensions given in the Manual. The measurements there given are : 

 Stipes, 6-12 in. long; fronds, 1-3 ft. long; pinnae, 12-25 pairs. The 

 measurements of my specimen are : Stipes, 22 in. ; frond, 5 ft. 4 in. ; 

 pinnae, 47 pairs. The total length of this specimen is 7 ft. 2 in. 



A. obtusatum Forst. occurs sparingly on maritime rocks. This fern 

 reminds me closely of the northern A. marinum. 



A. lucidum Forst. is undoubtedly one of the most variable ferns we 

 have. In addition to the type form, there are four varieties mentioned 

 in the Manual, but there are many forms intermediate among them, and 

 even forms connecting with other species. 



The type form is plentiful in damp, shaded parts of the forest, and can 

 usually be distinguished by its long acuminate pointed pinnae. 



Var. obliquum Moore is a smaller, more coriaceous plant, much blunter 

 in the pinnae, often, in exposed situations, hardly distinguishable from 

 A. obtusatum, of which it is probably a connecting-link with A. lucidum. 



Var. Lyallii Hook. f. : Rare in this district. One of the forms occurring 

 here bears considerable resemblance to A. bulbiferum, even to bearing the 

 bulbils. 



A. Hookerianum Col. is apparently rare and local, a small variety having 

 been gathered in the vicinity of Kaitaia. 



A. bulbiferum Forst. is quite a characteristic fern of the shaded bush, 

 attaining its greatest luxuriance in deep gullies. The typical form is very 

 distinct, but there are many variable forms, some of which are rather 

 puzzling. 



Var. tripinnatum Hook. f. is a clearly marked form, but I am not at 

 all clear as to var. laxum Hook f. In the Manual it is described as being 

 without bulbils. I have a form, not uncommon in places, which agrees 

 fairly well with the description of var. laxum, except that it as often as not 

 produces bulbils. There is another, and not uncommon, form which, so 

 far as I have seen, never produces bulbils at all. The frond is 12-18 in. 

 long without the stipes, simply pinnate, or barely bipinnate in the lower 

 part of the frond. Usually the pinnae are deeply toothed or lobed, 

 especially on the upper part. It usually occurs on damp clay banks. This 

 form is very distinct, and is, in my opinion, as worthy of varietal rank 

 as any of the others. Possibly it is a transitional form approaching 

 A. flaccid um. 



A. flaccidum Forst. varies more in form, I think, than any other fern 

 we have. No doubt the variations are due to a great extent to the nature 

 of the habitat, but even among the epiphytic plants, and among plants 

 growing on the same tree, there are remarkable differences in the shape, 

 size, and angle of the lobes. 



Among the terrestrial forms the differences are * much greater. 

 Rupestral forms are not unlike the pendent epiphytes except in size and 

 rigidity, but forms growing in shady forests differ widely. One not un- 



