734 THE FLORA OF NORFOLK ISLAND, 



have carried away three of the only five individual plants known from various 

 spots of the island. Mr. Robinson writes concerning this fern, that in habit 

 it is not unlike A. Nidus, so far that four fronds gathered from one plant 

 could scarcely be missed, and that all fronds appeared fructified, yet it shows 

 no inclination for natural dispersion; specimens lately received exhibit the 

 spikes semiterete and channelled, and the apex of the frond acute." 



For a note on the supposed occurrence of this fern in Lord 

 Howe Island, see these Proceedings, 1898, p. 146. 



32. AsPLENQM OBTUSATUM, Forst. var. DiFFORME. (A. diffovme, 

 R.Br., End!., Prod. Norf. 28 : A. marimun, F.v.M. not Linn.). 



According to Hooker k Baker (Sjmops. Filic. 207) and Christ 

 (p. 197), this variety is a form of the species with the pinnre cut 

 nearly down to the rhachis. 



•' On the rocks of the south coast, Asplenium d[forme, a fern resembling 

 the Sea Spleenwort, Asplenium marinum, of England, is found. At a short 

 distance from the shore, its leaves become more divided, and in the woods, 

 in the interior of the Island, they are separated into such narrow segments 

 that the lines of fructification are thrown upon their margins. It then 

 becomes C<mopteri$ odontites. But every possible gradation is to be met 

 with between this state and that in which it grows on rocks washed by the 

 sea " (Backhouse, p. 267). 



Backhouse's description of the coast form and the form of the 

 interior does not agree with Hooker, Baker and Christ's opinion 

 that A. dlfforme^ R.Br., is a form of A. obtitmtmu. 



33. Asplenium diversifolium, A. Cunn., Endl., Prod. Norf. 29 

 (A. dimorphum, Kunze). — On stems of tree-ferns (Endlicherj. 



34. Asplenium falcatum, Lam. (not Swartz, as in Endl., 

 Prod. Norf. 27). 



Asplenium falcatum^ Lam. vav.caudatiwi (A.caudatum, Forst.). 



A. falcatum, Lam., and A. caudatum, Forst., are kept distinct 

 by Hooker and Baker, and also by Christ; Bentham united them. 

 They are certainly not synonymous; the question is whether A. 

 caudatum is a variety of A. falcatum, or whether they are distinct 

 species. 



35. DiPLAZiUM japonicum, Thunb. {Asplenium japonicum, 

 Thunb.). 



