424 Transactions. — Botany. 



132. Pellffia rotundifolia, Forst. 



133. Lomaria procera, Spreng. 



134. „ acuminata, Baker. 



135. Doodia media, Br. 



136. Asplcniuni obtusatum, Furst. 



137. „ falcatiim, Lam. 



138. „ flaccidum, Forst. 



139. Aspidium richardi, Hook. 



140. Polypodinm tenellmii, Forst. 



141. „ serpens, Forst. 



142. „ billardieri, Br. 



143. Lycopodiuiu volnbile, Forst. 



Aet. XLV. — On a Remarkable Variety of Asplenium 

 umbrosum, J. Sm. 



By T. KiEK, F.L.3. 



l^Read before the Netsoii Philoso]_>liical Society, 11th Novonhcr 1890.] 



About twelve years ago I received from the Eev. F. H. 

 Spencer a specimen of an Asplenium collected in the Nelson 

 District, which presented several points of difTerence from any 

 other New Zealand fern ; but, unfortunately, it was in an 

 imperfect condition, and no positive conclusions could be 

 drawn as to its identity : it was therefore laid on one side 

 until better material could be procured, and was forgotten 

 until I had the pleasure of receiving specimens of the same 

 plant from Mr. McKerrow Camjpbell, when it was clearly seen 

 to be an Asjylenium belonging to the sub-genus Athyrium, and 

 at first sight appeared to be distinct from any New Zealand 

 species. A closer examination showed, however, that it was 

 a remarkable variety of Asplcniuvii umhrosiun, J. Sm., a species 

 occurring on calcareous soils in many parts of the colony, 

 although on a cursory examination it appears to have but 

 little in common with the type apart from its membranous 

 texture. A well-develojDed specimen of the typical form ex- 

 hibits spreading drooping fronds, from 3ft. to 5ft. in length, 

 and sometimes 4ft. across at their greatest breadth, thrice- 

 pinnate, with the ultimate pinnules distant, and from |^in. to ^in. 

 long, deeply lobed or toothed. In a more frequent form the 

 fronds are ovate-lanceolate in outline, from 1ft. Cin. to 2ft. long 

 and from Gin. to 9in. broad, twice-pinnate, with close-set 

 deeply-lobed pinnules ; the rhachis in both forms being some- 

 what robust. The chief points of difference in the present 

 plant are the attenuated rhachis, the smaller size, the weak 



