990 FILICES. [Asplenvum. 
sharply incised. Veins distinct, close, oblique, forked. Sori shorter 
than in A. falcatwm, in an oblique row close to the midrib of the 
pinne, not nearly reaching the margin.—Hook. Sp. Fil. iii. 152; 
Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 372; Hook. and Bak. Syn. Fil. 209; 
Thoms. N.Z. Ferns, 75; Field, N.Z. Ferns, 118. 
KERMADEC IsLANDS: Sunday Island, not uncommon, MacGillivray, T. F.C. 
A widely spread plant, found in most tropical regions. Doubtfully dis- 
tinct from A. falcatwm, from which it chiefly differs in the narrower and more 
caudate pinne and shorter sori. 
5. A. obtusatum, Forst. Prodr. n. 480—Rhizome short, thick, 
often forming a hard rounded mass, densely clothed with large brown 
shining ovate-lanceolate scales. Stipes 2-6in. long, erect, very 
stout, almost fleshy, greyish-green, densely scaly at the base. 
Fronds 2-12 in. long without the stipes, 1-3 in. broad, linear-oblong, 
acute, very thick and coriaceous or almost cartilaginous, glabrous 
or slightly paleaceous when young, pinnate ; rhachis broad, often 
margined, channelled above. Pinnze 6-20 pairs, close-set, often 
overlapping, shortly stipitate, 3-14 in. long, 4-#in. broad, oblong or 
linear-oblong, obtuse and rounded at the apex, the terminal pinna 
alone acute, obliquely truncate-cuneate at the base; margins thick 
and cartilaginous, crenate-serrate. Veins obscure, simple or forked. 
Sori oblique to the midrib, usually copious, short, linear-oblong or 
linear, not reaching the margin.—A. Cunn. Precur. n. 191; Raoul, 
Choix, 37; Homb. and Jacq. Voy. au Péle Sud, Crypt. t. 1, f. B, 
small specimen; Hook. Sp. Fil. ii. 96; Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 
83; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 371; Hook. and Bak. Syn. Fil. 207; Benth. 
Fl. Austral. vii. 747; Thoms. N.Z. Ferns, 73; Field, N.Z. Ferns, 
118 excl. all varieties quoted. 
KERMADEC Istanps: Abundant on maritime rocks, MacGillivray, T. F’ C., 
Miss Shakespear! NortH anp SoutH Istanps: On maritime rocks and out- 
lying islands from the Three Kings Islands and the North Cape to Foyeaux 
Strait, but often local or absent from wide stretches of the coast. CHATHAM 
IsLaANDs, STEWART ISLAND, AUCKLAND AND CAMPBELL ISLANDS, ANTIPODES 
Istanp: Apparently not uncommon near the sea. 
A. obtusatum is hera restricted to Forster’s original plant, which appears to 
be purely littoral. It has a wide range outside New Zealand, being found in 
Australia and Tasmania, several of the Pacific islands, Juan Fernandez, the 
coasts of extra-tropical South America, Tristan d’Acunha, and Possession Island. 
6. A. lucidum, forst. Prodr. n. 427.—Rhizome short, stout, 
often torming a hard and woody rounded caudex, clothed at the top 
with large brown shining ovate-acuminate scales. Stipes 6-18 in. 
long, stout, terete or compressed, densely scaly at the base. Fronds 
1-3 ft. long without the stipes, 6-14in. broad, erect or pendulous, 
lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, acuminate, dark- 
green and glossy, herbaceous or subcoriaceous, glabrous or slightly 
paleaceous beneath, pinnate ; rhachis terete or compressed. Pinne 
