j^^^'] Pitcher, Remarks on Ferns. y 



Mueller, in the " Census of Australian Plants," in the Gleichenia 

 family, under G. platyzoma. In this work the number of 

 Australian species is given as 212, of which 183 are to be found 

 in Queensland, 131 in New South Wales, 69 in Victoria,* 39 

 in Tasmania, 29 in South Australia, and 11 in Western Aus- 

 tralia. 



There is no species endemic to Victoria. Two species, Cyathea 

 CimmngJiami and Aspiduim Jiispidiim, are, however, only found 

 in Tasmania and Victoria, Asplenhmi Hooker anium only in 

 New South Wales and Victoria, and 14 other species are only 

 found in two other States and Victoria. The following six 

 species are recorded in all the other States as well as Victoria, 

 viz. : — Adiantiim Mthiopicum, Asplenhim flabellifolium, Cheil- 

 anthes temiifolia, Graminitis rutcefolia, Lindsaya linearis, and 

 Pteris aquilina. 



In a full list, alphabetically arranged, which is appended, is 

 given the geographical distribution of each of our native ferns, 



Classification of Ferns. . 



Although a large number of ferns, and the majority of our 

 Victorian species, are readily distinguishable from one another 

 by their mode of development and the forms assumed by their 

 frondage, it is necessary for their arrangement botanically that 

 some feature should be used as a basis for their classification. 

 While several schemes have been suggested, the principal ones 

 are those based upon the general habits of the plants, and the 

 formation, position, arrangement, and development of their 

 reproductive organs. 



Hooker's " Synopsis FiUcum " divides the Order into six 

 sub-orders, as follow : — i, Gleicheniaceae : 2, Polypodiace^ (with 

 13 sections known as " tribes ") ; 3, Osmundaceae ; 4, Schizaceae ; 

 5, Marattiacese ; and 6, Ophioglossaceae. The classification in 

 Christensen's recently published work, the author states, is 

 based principally upon that of Messrs. Engler and Prantl, which 

 divides the Order into twelve families, in the following sequence, 

 viz. : — I, Hymenophyllacese ; 2, Cyatheaceae ; 3, Polypodiaceae ; 

 4, Parkeriaceae ; 5, Matonacese ; 6, Gleicheniaceae ; 7, Schizaeaceae ; 

 8, Osmundaceae ; 9, Salviniaceae ; 10, Marsileaceae ; 11, 

 Marattiaceae ; 12, Ophioglossaceae. Bentham and Hooker, in 

 their " Flora Australiensis," group the ferns therein enumerated 

 under six tribes, viz. : — i, Ophioglosseae ; 2, Marattieae ; 3, 

 Osmundeae ; 4, Hymenophylleae ; 5, Cyatheae ; 6, Polypodieae. 

 This last-mentioned classification is used in the following general 



♦In the "Recording Census of Victorian Plants" (1908), prepared 

 under the direction of Professor Ewart for the Plant Names Committee 

 of the Club, 73 species are enumerated. 



