970 FILICES. [Pteris. 
Understood in the wide sense of the ‘‘ Synopsis Filicum,’’ this is a large 
genus of 125 species or more, almost cosmopolitan in its distribution. Two of 
the New Zealand species are endemic, two extend to Australia and the Pacific 
islands, the remaining two are very widely spread indeed. 
A. Veins free. 
Fronds 2-8ft. or more, deltoid, rigid, coriaceous. Pegs 
ments 4-1in. long, decurrent at the base 46 1. P. aquilina, 
Fronds 9-18 in., ovate or ovate-lanceolate, rigid, coria- 
ceous, glandular- er Segments small, ,-+in. 
long, acute 2. P. scaberula. 
Fronds 1-3 ft., ovate or deltoid, membranous, ‘glabrous. 
Segments 3-1} in. long, obtuse 50 sf, .. 3. P. tremula. 
B. Veins anastomosing. 
Fronds 2-4ft., deltoid, dark-green, 2-pinnate or rarely 
3-pinnate. Segments of the pinnules lanceolate or 
linear- > Haan ah | 1-3 in. long, entire or toothed at the 
tips .. 4. 2P. comans- 
eyonals 1-3 ft, , deltoid, " pale- -green, 2-4- -pinnate. | Pinnules 
often remote, stalked, ovate or deltoid, deeply lobed .. 5. P. macilenta. 
Fronds 2-4 ft., ‘ovate-deltoid to ovate-lanceolate, glaucous, 
2-3-pinnate. Pinnz distant, sessile; pinnules oblong, 
obtuse, usually entire 46 aS = .. | 6. ees inersas 
P. lomarioides, Col. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xiii. (1880) 380, said to have been 
collected near Tapuaeharuru, Taupo, is proved by the type specimen in Mr. 
Colenso’s herbarium to be the widely distributed P. cretica, Linn. Although it 
is just possible that the species may exist near some of the hot springs at 
Taupo, where other tropical ferns, such as Gleichenia dichotoma, Nephrodium 
unitum and N. molle are known to grow, still, as the locality has been repeatedly 
searched without success, the most prudent course is to wait for further evidence 
before introducing the species into the Flora. The same course must be followed 
with respect to P. longifolia, Linn., an equally widely spread plant, stated by 
Mr. Buchanan (Trans. N.Z. Inst. xiv. (1882) 356) to have been gathered at 
Tarawera, between Napier and Taupo, but of which there are no indigenous 
specimens in any New Zealand herbarium. 
1. P. aquilina, Linn. Sp. Plant. 1533; var. esculenta, Hook. f. 
Fil. Nov. Zel. ii. 25.—Rhizome stout, as thick as the finger, creep- 
ing, much branched, often matted, subterranean, producing nume- 
rous scattered fronds. Stipes variable in length, stout, rigid, erect, 
brown, smooth and shining. Fronds usually from 2-6ft. long 
including the stipes, but often taller and sometimes 10-12 ft., 
broadly deltoid in outline, coriaceous, glabrous or nearly so when 
mature, usually more or less rusty-pubescent when young, especially 
on the under-surface, 3—4-pinnate ; rhachises grooved above, usually 
pubescent. Primary pinne broad, distant, spreading, the lowest 
pair the largest and most compound, the upper ones gradually 
decreasing in size; secondary and tertiary lanceolate, always ter- 
minating in a linear obtuse undivided segment. Ultimate segments 
linear or linear-oblong, decurrent at the base. Veins free, once or 
twice forked. Sori usually continuous all round the segment, and 
often extending to the decurrent base. Indusium double, but the 
