1010 FILICES. [Polypodiwm. 
Var. Hamiltoni, Col. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xiv. (1882) 338. — Smaller and 
more delicate, pale-green. Fronds 1-2 ft. long, 3-5in. broad; pinne irregular, 
crisped, pinnatifid three-quarters of the way to the midrib or more; lobes 
coarsely and sharply irregularly dentate. Veinlets confined to the lobes, the 
lowest pair not meeting those of the adjoining lobes. Sori midway be- 
tween the midrib and the margin. A very peculiar plant, but possibly only 
an abnormal state. 
NorrH anp Sourn Isytanps, CHatHam Isx~anps: From the North Cape 
to Foveaux Strait, abundant in woods by the side of streams, &c. Sea-level 
to 2000 ft. Var. Hamiltoni: Kereru (Hawke’s Bay), A. Hamilton! 
A very distinct species, confined to New Zealand. 
3. P. australe, Mett. Polyp. 36.—Rhizome very short, or erect or 
oblique and lengthened to 4-14 in. long, crowned with copious pale 
chestnut-brown scales; rootlets long, wiry, densely hairy; often 
several rhizomes and their rootlets are matted together in the 
same tuft. Fronds numerous, crowded towards the end of the rhi- 
zome, erect, 1-6 in. long, 4-+ in. broad, linear-lanceolate or narrow- 
oblanceolate or linear-spathulate, quite entire, obtuse at the tip, 
very gradually narrowed into a short winged stipes, dark-green, 
coriaceous, glabrous or sparingly ciliate with short whitish hairs. 
towards the base. Veins obscure, hidden in the substance of the 
frond. Sori in asingle row on each side of the midrib and nearer to. 
it than to the margin, oblique to the midrib, usually numerous, 
rather large, oblong or linear-oblong, often confluent when old.— 
Hook. Sp. Fil. iv. 167; Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 380; Hook. and 
Bak. Syn. Ful. 322; Benth. Fl. Austral. vii. 762; Thoms. N.Z. 
Ferns, 87; Field, N.Z. Ferns, 138, t. 22, f. 1. Grammitis australis, 
R. Br. Prodr. 146; A. Cunn. Precur. nu. 172; Raoul, Choiz, 37; 
Homb. and Jacq. Voy. aw Pole Sud, Crypt. t. 2,G; Hook. f. Fl. 
Antarct. 1. 111; Fl. Nov. Zel. ii. 44. G. rigida and G. humilis, 
Homb. and Jacq. l.c. t. 2, F, H. 
Var. villosum, Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. ii. 44.—Stipes, margins, and under- 
surface of the fronds more or less villous with long spreading rufous or whitish 
hairs, often partially concealing the sori.—P. paradoxum, Col. im Trans. N.Z. 
Inst. xiv. (1882) 336. Grammitis ciliata, Col. in Tasmanian Journ. Nat. Sct. 
(1845) 6. 
Var. pumilum, Cheesem.—Small, very densely matted; rhizomes stout, 
creeping, sometimes 1-2in. long. Fronds 4—$in. long, obovate or spathulate, 
obtuse, narrowed to the base, very thick and coriaceous, glabrous or obscurely 
pubescent beneath. Sori usually solitary near the tip of the frond, large, 
roundish.—-P. crassium, Kirk in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xvii. (1885) 232. Grammitis 
pumila, Armstr. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xiii. (1879) 314. 
NortH AnD SoutH Isnanps, St#wart IsLAND, AUCKLAND AND CAMPBELL 
IsuaANps, ANTIPODES IsLAND, Macquarie Isuanp: The typical state and 
var. villosum not uncommon throughout on rocks or trunks of trees; var. pwmt- 
lum in mountain districts from the Hast Cape southwards, ascending to over 
5000 ft. 
A very variable little plant, also found in Australia and Tasmania, Chili, 
Fuegia, Tristan d’Acunha, and Marion Island. 
