^^^^'l Pitcher, Remarks on Fevns. 15 



1913J ' -J 



the base of tree ferns and fallen tree-trunks. Young plants 



are frequently developed in the form of bulbils on or near 



the apex of the rachis of the frond, as in the case of 



Aspidmm aculeatum and one or two other species. 



A. umhrosum. Shady Spleenwort, has large, umbrageous fronds 



three to five feet in length, of a bright green colour. It is 



a handsome fern, but luxuriates only in the darker gullies 



of our mountain districts, where it often forms a trunk 



from twelve to eighteen inches in height. 



A. ftacciditm, Limp Spleenwort, is another beautiful species 



found growing on the stems of tree-ferns Its fronds, 



which frequently have a pendent habit, are from twelve to 



eighteen inches long, and have rather narrow, segmented 



pinnae. The sori on the under surface extend to the margin 



of the frond, and give a very fine appearance to the fern 



when fruiting. 



The genus Cystopteris, with its single Australian species, 



C. fragilis. Brittle Bladder Fern, formerly only recorded from 



Tasmania, has since been noted from Victoria. It has a 



creeping, scaly rhizome, with fronds usually six to nine inches 



long, and is found in damp places. 



The last family of this group of Polj-podieae is Aspidium, 

 with six species in our State. Under the recent re-classification 

 three of these will be brought under the genus Dryopteris and 

 three under Polystichum, neither of which families have other 

 Victorian representatives. The Aspidiums are characterized by 

 having their orbicular sori variously dispersed over the under 

 surface of the frond. The following are the species under the 

 former classification, with which we are more familiar, viz. : — 

 A. molle, Soft Shield Fern, with fronds of a dehcate downy 

 character, one to fwo feet long. It is recorded from the 

 north-west part of the State. 

 .4. aculeatmn. Cat-head Fern, is a well-known species. Its dark 

 fronds, one to three feet long, have their thick rachis and 

 the pinnae covered with dark brown scales mixed with hairy 

 ones, presenting a very shaggy appearance. This fern, like 

 Aspleniiim hulhiferiim, has a habit of forming, at the apex 

 of the rachis and at other parts of the fronds, young bulbils, 

 which, on being carefully removed and planted, readily 

 make new plants. 

 A. coriaceum, Leathery Shield Fern, a species more commonly 

 known as A. capense, is a distinct fern with thick, leather- 

 like fronds up to twelve inches long. It has a creeping 

 rhizome, and is found largely on the trunks of ferns and 

 other vegetation in mountain gullies throughout the State. 

 A. decomposiUtm, Shiny Shield Fern, is somewhat similar to 

 the preceding species. It assumes the form of tufts, by 



