416 Transactions. — Botany. 



long, |in. wide, pinnatifid-pinnate at base. Veins numerous, 

 clear, prominent, pinnate, forked, regular not extending to 

 margin. Sori few, 4-8 to a pinnule, distant, intramarginal 

 on tip of veinlet at or near base of serrature, opposite in 

 4 pairs on the larger "pinnules. Involucre very small scale- 

 like, thin, greenish, hairy, margin entire ciliolate. Capsules 

 produced, red. 



Hab. In a dry wood near margin of Mangatera Stream, 

 south of Dannevirke ; 1895 : Mr. Pinkncy. 



Ohs. I. A species allied in some respects, though not 

 closely, to D. {Microleina) ciliata, Hook., and to D. (Microlepia) 

 strigosa, Sw. (D. khasiyana, Hook.). 



II. I look upon the finding of this fern as a special acqui- 

 sition to our known New Zealand ferns, seeing we had only 

 one species" of this large genus described. It has also a little 

 history, worth briefly relating, as encouragement towards the 

 detecting of other new forms in our little-known woods. A 

 few years ago Mr. Pinkney (a member of the Hawke's Bay 

 Philosophical Institute) told me, that he had a fern from the 

 bush growing in his private fernery which he did not know, it 

 being barren, yet supposed it might be Asplenmm umbrosum. 

 At my request he, shortly after, kindly brought me a barren 

 frond, and I found, on close examination, it was not As- 

 pleniiim umbrosum, neither was it known to me ; so we 

 waited, in hopes of a fertile frond being produced ; there were 

 at that time several barren fronds on the plant. Last year 

 (1895) a fertile frond was developed, which, when full grown, 

 Mr. Pinkney also kindly gave me for examination. He had 

 previously revisited the spot where he had found it (and so did 

 I), but the wood had been lately felled and burnt. Curiously 

 enough, I found in my " Synopsis Filicum," at the place con- 

 taining the sub-genus Microlepia, the terminal portion (one- 

 third or one-fourth) of a fertile frond (or pinna) of, apparently, 

 this same species of fern, which I must have laid there some 

 years ago ; but I have no recollection as to where or when I 

 got it. Last month I sent one-half of my fertile frond and 

 two barren ones to Kew. 



Aspidium, Swartz. 

 1. A. (Polystiohum) perelegans, sp. nov. 



Caudex coalescent, stout, 8in.-12in. high. Sin. broad, 

 bearing 10-12 fronds. Stipe 12in.-13in. long, very stout, 

 3-4 lines diameter, dry hard channelled, scales very numerous 



* I am aware, from " Appendix Synopsis Filicum," of a second 

 species of Davallia (D. forsteri, Carruth.) having been discovered in 

 New Zealand by Forster, during Cook's second voyage, at Dusky Bay, in 

 the extreme south, but not detected since. 



