Filices.~\ 



FLORA OP NEW ZEALAND. 



33 



§ a. Fronds simply pinnate : pinna toothed, scarcely lobed. In A. lucidum the lower pinnce are sometimes 



pinnate at the base. 



1. Asplenium flabellifolmm, Cav. j parvulum, flaccidum, frondibus decumbentibus lineari-elongatis 

 pinnatis, pirmis rhombeis breviter stipitatis antice crenato-dentatis, rachi lasvi filiformi apice elongato radi- 

 cante.— Cav. Sw. Ml. p. 81. t. 31./. 2. Br. Prodr. A. Cunn. Prodr. 



Hab. Northern and Middle Islands, but not very common ; Bay of Islands, Cunningham, etc. East 

 Coast, Colenso. Auckland, Sinclair. Banks' Peninsula, Raoul, etc. (Cultivated at Kew.) 



A common Tasmanian and Australian species, very closely allied to a Chili one.— Fronds tufted, straggling, 

 prostrate or pendulous, slender, weak, flaccid, 3-8 inches long, pinnate, quite glabrous. Pinnce very variable in 

 size and shape, i~| inch long, shortly stipitate, rhomboid or orbicular, broadly cuneate or rarely reniform at the 

 base, outer margin coarsely crenate or lobed. Sort radiating from the base of the pinna. RacMs filiform, elon- 

 gated, its apex without pinna;, often rooting.— This is a very distinct species from any of the following. 



2. Asplenium obtusatum, Forst. ; frondibus coriaceis cEespitosis erectis v. pendulis pinnatis, pinnis 

 breviter stipitatis oblongis oblongo-lanceolatisve obtusis acutis acuminatisve serratis crenatisve basi oblique 

 cuneatis rotundatis truncatisve, rachi crassa marginata glaberrima v. sparse subsquamoso-pilosa, stipite basi 

 squamato squamis nitidis. 



Yar. a ; fronde erecta, pinnis valde coriaceis obtusis acuminatisve, venis ut plurimum simplicibus. A. 

 obtusatum, Forst. Prodr. Lab. Fl. Nov. Roll. v. 2. p. 93. t. 242. /. 2. Br. Prodr. ScMuhr, Fil. v. 1. 

 p. 6. t. 68. Fl. Anlarcl.jj. 108. 



Var. j3. obliquum; pinnis coriaceis elongatis lanceolatis acuminatis, soris linearibus, venis subremotis 

 simplicibus furcatisve.— Fl. Antarct. p. 108. A. obliquum, Forst. Prodr. Schkuhr, Fil. t. 71. Lab. I. c. 

 t. 242./. 1. A. oblongifolium, Col. in Tasm. Phil. Joum. 



Hab. Yar. a and /3 very abundant throughout the Islands, Forster, etc. Nat. name, "Paretao," 

 Col. (Cultivated at Kew.) 



The form I have, called var. a is an extremely abundant Fern in the southern hemisphere, especially on maritime 

 rocks, and represents in these regions its very near ally, the common A. marinum of England, from which it differs 

 chiefly in the upper pinnae being confluent into a broader terminal pinna, and in the generally simple veins ; cha- 

 racters which I fear may break down.— Fronds very thick and leathery, tufted, 3 inches to 3 feet long, erect or 

 pendulous, pinnate; pinnae 1-4 inches long, stalked, linear- or oblong-lanceolate or oblong, blunt or sharp; base 

 truncate, cuneate, or rounded; margin coarsely crenate or serrate. Veins often quite simple. RacMs very stout, 

 compressed, margined, glabrous or with a few scattered soft hairs. Stipes covered at the base with long, broad, 

 erect, shining, subulate scales.— Small plants have only one or two pairs of pinna;, which are often short and blunt. 

 Sometimes the lower pinnae are lobed or pinnate at the base. As the fronds become more flaccid, the pinna; larger, 

 broader, more acuminate, and the rachis more slender, this passes into the following. 



3. Asplenium lucidum, Forst.; frondibus submembranaceis csespitosis pinnatis, pinnis ovato- v. 

 oblongo-lanceolatis longe acuminatis stipitatis basi angustatis grosse crenatis, soris elongatis, rachi gracili 

 non marginata, stipite basi squamato, squamis nitidis.— Forst. Prodr. Sc/ik. Fil. t. 72. A, Cunn. Prodr. 

 A. obtusatum, var., A. Rich. Flor. 



Yar. /3. Lyallii ; pinnis duplicato-serratis, inferioribus basi pinnatis, pinnulis oblique ovato- v. lineari- 

 oblongis obtusis. (Tab. LXXVII.) 



Hab. Abundant in woods and throughout the Islands. (Cultivated at Kew.) Yar. /3. Middle Island 

 o, Lyall. 



Most probably only a variety of A. obtusatum, but a very distinct-looking one in its ordinary state. It may be 



VOL. II. 



