Asplenium. | FILICES. 987 
or tumid, single or double (diplazioid), when single opening towards 
the costa or midrib, when double opening in opposite directions. 
Sporangia stalked, surrounded by an incomplete vertical ring, 
bursting transversely. 
Taken in the sense of the ‘‘ Synopsis Filicum’”’ this is one of the largest. 
genera of Ferns, containing about 350 species, distributed through both the 
tropical and temperate regions of the world. Of the 12 species found in New 
Zealand, 1 appears to be endemic, another is found elsewhere only in Aus- 
tralia, the remaining 10 are widely spread. The New Zealand species present 
exceptional difficulties to the student, on account of their extreme variability 
and the manner in which several of them are connected by intermediate forms. 
Thus A. obtwsatwm and A. lucidum not only run into one another, but are con- 
nected by transitional varieties with A. bulbiferwm and A. flaccidum. A. 
Richard almost merges into A. flaccidwm on the one side and A. Hookerianuwm on 
the other, while A. bulbiferwm and A. flaccidwm, distinct enough in their 
ordinary states, are almost united by some of their aberrant varieties. With 
such a complex network of variation it is not surprising that the species. 
are difficult of limitation and their characters arbitrary. 
Subgenus I. EvuaspLentium. Veins free, simple or forked. Indusiwm flat or 
nearly so, single, not double nor diplazioid. 
*Fronds pinnate (2-pinnate below in A. lucidwm var. Lyalliz), Sori re- 
mote from the margin. 
Fronds slender, 6-14 in., decumbent or prostrate, rooting 
at the naked tip. Pinne 4+-41n., flabellate 
Fronds slender, 3-12in., rigid, erect. Pinnx t-4in., 
oblong or obovoid .. Ke be 2. A. Trichomanes. 
Fronds 1-2 ft., coriaceous, not fleshy, brownish-green. 
Pinne 14-4in. x $-lin., broadly lanceolate, acumi- 
nate, deeply lobed. Veins close, distinct, flabellately 
— 
A. flabellifolium. 
divided at the base of the pinne Se 3. A. faleatun. 
Characters of A. falcatwm but pinne narrow- ‘lanceolate, 
caudate .. 4, A. caudatum. 
Fronds 4-13 ft., thick and fleshy. Pinne $-1hi in, a5 oblong, 
obtuse. Veins obscure, parallel : 5. d. obtusatum. 
Fronds 1-3 ft., coriaceous, bright- -green. Pinne 2-6 in. 
x #2in., oblong-lanceolate, acuminate, serrate. Veins 
obscure, parallel .. oe ae oie -. 6, A. lucidum. 
** Fronds 2-3-pinnate; segments generally narrow. Sori usually one to 
each segment, often close to the margin. 
Fronds 3-12in., erect, membranous, usually 2-pinnate. 
Pinnz and pinnules distinctly stipitate, the latter short, 
rhomboid-cuneate. Sori few, rather large... 7. A. Hookerianun. 
Fronds 1-4 ft., oblong- lanceolate, erect or drooping, often 
proliferous, 2-3-pinnate. Pinnules lanceolate, 3- Lae 
long : 8. A. bulbiferwm 
Fronds 6-12 in. A ovate, coriaceous, rigid, erect, 2-3- -pin- 
nate. Pinnules ovate-rhomboid, pinnatifid; segments 
narrow-linear, 4-2 in. long .. ae fe -. 9. A. Richardt, 
Fronds 4-3ft., pendulous or erect, thick and coria- 
ceous, pinnate or 2-pinnate. Pinnules very narrow- 
linear ee ae 2 3 ae .. 10. A. flaccidum. 
