12 Pitcher, Remarks on Ferns. [voT*"xxx. 



The genus Lindsaya is represented by the two species L. 

 linearis. Screw Fern, with creeping rhizome and very narrow 

 fronds up to one foot long, simply pinnate ; and the smaller 

 L. trichmanioides, Wiry Fern. Both species are to be found in 

 dark loamy or peaty open and swamp lands. 



The well-known genus Adiantum, which is represented all 

 over the tropical and temperate regions of the world, is credited 

 with four Victorian species — A. Mthiopictmi, Common Maiden- 

 hair Fern, familiar to us all, but which must not l)c confused 

 with the well-known EngUsh Maidenhair Fern ; A . capilliis 

 Veneris ; A. diaphanum. Filmy Maidenhair Fern ; A. formosum, 

 Beautiful Maidenhair Fern ; and A . hispidulum, Rough Maiden- 

 hair Fern. The last three are all different in frondage to A. 

 Mthiopiciim, and are of rather rare occurrence in Victoria. 



The genus Cheilanthes has one representative which is well 

 known — C. tenui folia. Rock Fern. It is to ]:>e found in open 

 spaces in the outlying suburbs of Melbourne, and luxuriates in 

 rocky ground in various districts throughout the State. The 

 two other species which have been generally recognized under 

 Cheilanthes as C. vellea and C. distans will be mentioned later 

 under the genus Notholaena in their sequence according to the 

 " Flora Australiensis." 



One Hypolepis — H. teniiifolia, Soft Hypolepis — is recorded 

 for Victoria, but is extremely rare. I have it from Sassafras 

 district. It has light green-coloured fronds, four to five feet 

 in height. 



The next genus, Pteris, contains seven species, most of which 

 are well known, all having creeping rhizomes. P. jalcata. 

 Sickle Fern, is met with in the vicinity of fern-gullies throughout 

 the State. It has dark green fronds, six to eighteen inches 

 high, with sickle-sha[)cd, simple pinucC one to two or more 

 inches long. It is very hardy. 



P. timbrosa, Shady Brake Fern, with erect fronds two to three 



feet high, of a beautiful shining green colour, and palmate 



pinnae, is found in Gippsland. 



P. arguta. Tender Bracken, more familiarly known under the 



name of P. tremida, grows to a height of five feet, and is 



one of the most shapely and beautiful of the genus. It 



has delicate green frondage. It is extensively grown in 



pots by our nurserymen for indoor and fernery decoration. 



P. longifolia, Long Sickle Fern, has bright green fronds one tb 



two feet in height, with pinnae three to six inches long. It 



is found in patches in East Gippsland. 



P. aqtiilina. Common Bracken, is perhaps the most common 



and widely known of our creeping-rhizomed ferns. Fronds 



of this species are described as growing to a height of 



ten feet, but even larger fronds of this rank-growing. 



