BY THE BEY. DR. WOOLLS, D.D., F.L.S. 75 



is the most abundant, and in some of its larger forms (especially 

 that found at the Macleay Eiver by Mr. K. D. Fitzgerald) it 

 resembles the European A. capillus-veneris, but the sori are not on 

 the apices of the lobes as in that species. Many Pteridologists 

 doubt whether llypolepis tenuifolia is distinct from Polypodmm 

 punctatum, and whether JPteris paradoxa and P. rotundifolia are 

 distinct from F.falcata. 



The same remark is applicable to the species of Doodia 

 which seem to pass insensibly into each other, and also to some 

 species of Asplenmm^ which Baron F. von. Mueller reduces to the 

 European^. wmrM?w?«; Aspleniumjlahellifolium, Lomaria discolor 

 and L. JPatersoni are sometimes very sportive in their growth 

 and deviate considerably from the typical forms. The tendency to 

 produce bipinnatifid fronds in L. discolor, has been noticed not 

 only near Sydney, but beyond the Dividing Bange. In the genu& 

 Aspidium, there is great difficulty with the species A. decompositum 

 and A. fenericaule, for some forms which have no indusium are 

 referred to these plants. Besides the ordinary forms of A. decom- 

 positwn (of which ^. tenerum seems only a variety), A. acuminatum 

 or A. glahellum is also joined with it. This last has a short root and 

 different habit, and, in the opinion of Mr. Bailey, E.L.S. of 

 Brisbane, must be regarded as a distinct species. From specimens 

 procured at the Kurrajong, I am disposed to agree with him, and 

 also that A. tenericaide and Folypodium. ^pallidum are identical. 

 Mr. Bailey would, likewise, separate from Aspidium, under the 

 name of Folypodium aspidioides, a fern very similar to A. acumin- 

 atuon, but apparently without indusium. This fern occurs in the 

 northern parts of the colony and in Queensland. There is yet 

 one form remaining for consideration, and that is the fern which 

 Mr. Baker refers to A. lancilohum, but which, from the absence 

 of indusia, more closely resembles Polypodium riifescens. When 

 Mr. Bentham had before him large numbers of specimens from 

 all parts of Australia, he was led to unite several forms under A. 



