258 THK FERNS OF LORD HOWE ISLAND, 



synonym of P. Moorei, and tlie "heavy fern" has to be described 

 as a new species. I am dedicating it to Mr. Thomas Whitelegge, 

 who was, apparently, the first to point out how tliis fern differed 

 from P. capense, with which it had been identified. 



1. P. MooREi Christ. 



P. aculeatum var. Moorei Christ, in Proc. Linn. 8oc. N.S.Wales, 

 1898, p. 146; P. Kingii Watts, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.Wales, 1912, 

 p. 101. 



Western base of Mt. Gower (King, Oliver). 



Var. TENEiiUM, var.no v.; f. umbrosa, op. cit., 1912, p. 403. 



Tenerius, paleis ad stipitis basin dense et pnlchre confertis, 

 stipiti supra et rhachidi subnudis. 



Dr. Christ thought this an umbrageous form of P. Moorei, but it 

 is doubtful if it is limited to specially shaded places. 



Among rocks at mouth of Soldier Creek (Maiden) ; base of Mt. 

 Gower (King). 



2. P. Whitkleggki, sp.nov. 



P. acliantiforme (Forst.), J.Sm. (P. capense Willd.), fid. Kew; 

 P. Moorei Christ, fid. Betche in Herb. Syd., and Watts, loc. cit.; 

 local name "Heavy Fern." 



Rhizoma erectum robustum, fibrosis radiculis atris,' validis densis 

 instructum; stipes validus, ad 75cm. longus, paleis brunneis dense 

 vestitus, mfra magnis fusco-brunneis, supra parvulis teneris pal- 

 lido-brunneis ; rhachis et costee paleis similibus vestitae; frons 

 ovato-lanceolata vel subtriangularis, subinsequalis, plus minusve 

 curvata, pinnis lanceolatis acuminatis, sursum curvatis, piimulis 

 numerosis lanceolatis sursum curvatis, pinnatilobis, lobis inferiori- 

 bus ad rhachidem divisis, segmentis integris vel crenulatis vel sub- 

 lobatis, aeroscopicis evolutioribus, margin ibus plus minusve recur- 

 vis; sori pernumerosi, interdum fere integram frondis faciem sub- 

 tus tegentes, indusio magno rotundo membranaceo, facile cadenti, 

 marginibus subrecurvis. 



Fairl}^ common on mountain-slopes. 



I 



