Colenso. — On the Ferns of New Zealand, 225 



broad, linear-lanceolate, slender, weak, drooping, pinnatifid cut 

 nearly to rhachis but the green lamina entire, membranaceous, 

 glabrous, shining, pale-green with a reddish tinge ; segments 

 sub 30-jugate, symmetrical, alternate, distant, sinuses large, 

 oblong, 1% lines long, 1 line broad, obtuse (sometimes sub-acute 

 from the tip of a vein) ; the ultimate lobe rather large, con- 

 fluent, obtuse, margins entire and sub-sinuate from tips of veins, 

 segments very distant below and sub-pinnate, bases extending 

 upwards and decurrent ; midrib fiexuous, evanescent ; veins very 

 few, pinnate, 2-3-jugate, simple, prominent, extending to 

 margin, their tips thickened, brown. Stipes very long, about 

 half the length of the whole frond, very slender almost capillary, 

 fiexuous, finely channelled above, dark-red-brown, glossy, with 

 a few short, sab-orbicular thin reddish scales at base. 



Hab. High slopes of Tongariro Mountain Kange, County of 

 East Taupo ; 1887 : per Mr. H. Hill. 



Obs. This is a most peculiar species ; its long, narrow, 

 slender, small-leaved fronds differ widely from all its congeners 

 known to me. Unfortunately I have not seen a fertile frond, 

 but have received several barren ones entire, and tbey are nearly 

 alike. Apparently the plant is of casspitose growth. Perfect 

 specimens of this little species are much desired. 



4. L. Jiuviatilis, Sprengel ; var. ramosa, Col. 



Plant similar to L. Jiuviatilis (as found here and in the hilly 

 interior of the North Island), large, gregarious, forming thick 

 beds or patches ; caudex stout, 4-6 inches high, coalescent of 

 many stipites. Stipes 4-7 inches long, rather slender, very 

 scaly throughout (as also rhachis) with long red glossy scales. 

 Fronds linear-lanceolate, 2 feet 3 inches to 2 feet 6 inches long, 

 1 - 1J inches broad, pinnate, membranaceous, light-green. Ste- 

 rile fronds : spreading, somewhat decumbent, pinnaa 50-jugate, 

 distant, orbicular, and oval with broadly rounded tips, J inch 

 long, slightly narrowed at base, sessile, patent ; midrib not ex- 

 tending to apex ; veins pinnate, prominent, forked ; margins 

 cartilaginous, white, denticulate, recurved ; the uppermost lobes 

 very small and pinnatifid, confluent at tip ; forked and branched 

 near the top ; branches 4-6 inches long, dichotomous at tips, 

 branchlets 1-2^ inches long, very narrow ; pinnae as on rhachis 

 but much smaller and gradually reduced in size, minute at 

 apices ; sometimes the extreme tips of the branchlets bear long 

 narrow fruiting lobes or pinnae ; and sometimes their tips are 

 corymbose-crested and much dilated,* with their lobes close and 

 imbricated ; more rarely a single narrow linear obtuse leaflet, or 

 lobe, 2 mches long, is produced from the main rhachis at the 



* As shown in L. spicant, var. ramosum, Moore : Lowe, " New and Rare 

 Ferns," plate xxi. 



15 



