BY THE REV. DR. WOOLLS, D.D., F.L.S. 73 



and J/. Dntmmoiidu), whilst Baron Mueller is inclined to reduce 

 all its numberless forms to J/, quadrifolia. PiluUfe7'a r/lohidifera 

 which is common to the old and new world, has hitherto been 

 found only in Tasmania and AVest Australia. 



In proceeding to the large and beautiful order of the Ferns, 

 it may be remarked, that, with one exception, all the genera found 

 in Australia are represented in other parts of the world, and even 

 with regard to that one fPlatyzomaJ, Mr. Baker describes it as 

 "a genus too nearly allied to Gleichesia,^' whilst Baron Mueller 

 (Frag. Yol. 5, p. 11^) reduces it to G. platyzoma. Ranging our 

 ferns under the six tribes of the Flora, the first (Ophiorjlossece) 

 has two species of Opliiglossum (one of which, O. vulgatitm, is 

 common in w^arm or temperate climates), and one of Botrychiiom 

 (B. teniafumj which occurs also in America, Asia, and New 

 Zealand. 



The most admired of the second tribe or Marattieae do not 

 extend so far South as New South Wales ; but the climbing 

 Lygodlum and three spscies of Scliizcea (one of which S. dichotoma 

 spreads over Tropical Asia and Africa) are found here and there 

 throughout the colony, though S. hifida and S. rupestris are much 

 more common. Of the tribe OsmundesB, the aquatic fern 

 Cerijiopteris and the truly Australian Flatyzoma seem limited to 

 North Australia and Queensland ; but four species of Gleichenia 

 and one of Todea (T. harhara) have a wide range in New South 

 "Wales. T. Fraseri, which is certainly one of the most delicate 

 and beautiful of Australian Ferns, has been found in a stunted 

 form in a creek near Parramatta. Its favourite habitat, however, 

 is the deep gullies of the Blue Mountains, where it sometimes 

 has an erect caudex and fronds exceeding three feet in length. 

 The fourth tribe, Hymenophylleae, which is characterised by its 

 thin and almost transparent fronds, is represented by five species 

 of TricTiomanes and eight of Hymenophyllum. Several of these 

 are common to New Zealand and the islands of the Pacific, 

 whilst a, Tunhridgense my be regarded as cosmopolitan, for it 



