Filices.~\ 



FLORA OE NEW ZEALAND. 



39 



A large genus of Ferns, natives of botli hot and cold climates, chiefly distinguished from Polystichum by the 

 involucre being reniform and attached by the sinus, and not orbicular or peltately attached. (Name from ve<f>po<s, a 

 kidney; in allusion to the form of the involucre.) 



1. Nephrodiuin decompositum, Br.; frondibus glabris puberulis vel pubescentibus ovatis v. deltoideis 

 bi-tri-quaclripinnatis membranaceis, pinnulis decurrenti-coadunatis ovato- v. oblongo-lanceolatis inciso-lo- 

 batis pinnatifidisve, lobulis dentatis acutis obtusisve, rachibus tenuiter marginatis, stipite gracili basi jiudo. 

 — Br. Prodr. 



Var. a. glabellum; frondibus glabratis glaberrimisve.— N. glabellum, A. Cunn. Prodr. (Tab. LXXIX.) 



Var. /3. pubescent; frondibus pubescentibus velutinisve. 



Hab. Throughout the Northern m & Middle Islands, abundant as far south as Banks' Peninsula. 

 (Cultivated at Kew.) 



A common and very variable plant, found also in Australia and Tasmania.— Frond a span to 3 feet high, 

 ovate, lanceolate, broadly ovate, or deltoid, sometimes pentagonous from the first division of the lowest branch being 

 elongated, tri-quadri-pinnate, rarely pinnate, or bipinnate only, quite smooth, or more or less downy, sometimes 

 covered with resinous glandular points. Pinna often elongate and even caudate, especially in Tasmania. Pinnules 

 small, decurrent, oblong or ovato-lanceolate, pinnatifid, lobed or toothed, divisions very sharp or blunt. Sori small, 

 numerous, placed on the middle of a venule. Involucre glabrous or hairy. RacJds with a very narrow wing or 

 margin, or naked, smooth or pubescent, as is the stipes, which is slender, and bears at the curved base a few short 

 chaffy scales.— Plate LXXIX. Fig. 1, 2, under surfaces of pinnules with sori :— both magnified. 



2. Nephrodium velutinum, Hook, fil.j frondibus membranaceis pubescentibus rufo-velutinisve punctis 

 resinosis ssepius conspersis deltoideis bi-quadripinnatis, pinnulis decurrenti-coadunatis lineari-oblongis 

 obtuse pinnatifido-lobatis, lobulis integerrimis crenatisve obtusis, indusiis reniformibus v. nullis pubescen- 

 tibus pilosis glandulis stipitatis ssepius marginatis, raclii nuda, stipite elongato basi curvo paleis membra- 

 naceis elongatis laxe tecto. — Aspidium velutinum, A. Rich. Flor. A. Cunn. Prodr. A. pentangularum, 

 Colenso in Tasm.. Phil. Journ. (Tab. LXXX.) 



Hab. Throughout the Islands ; frequent in woods. 



I have the greatest difficulty in distinguishing many states of N. decompositum from this, nor do I know how 

 the line is to be drawn between that species and many forms of this. The present is, in New Zealand, usually a 

 much larger plant, much more universally pubescent and generally covered with a red-brown tomentum ; it is more 

 generally tri- or quadri-pinnate, with broader, never sharply-toothed pinnules, and has fimbriate involucres, the 

 edges of which are furnished with obovate club-shaped golden-yellow glands or cells, fall of resinous fluid; some- 

 times however the indusia are wholly absent, and at other times they are reduced to a small scale that is found 

 with difficulty. The scales on the base of the stipes are much longer, more flaccid and membranous in this plant, 

 than in N. decompositum. I have examined a very pubescent specimen of N. decompositum from Brisbane river, New 

 Holland, with broad pinnules, which I should be inclined to refer to this, but the base of the stipes is wanting.— 

 Plate LXXX. Fig. 1, 2, 3, under surfaces of pinnules ; 4, involucres and capsules :— all magnified. 



3. Nephrodium squamulosum, Hook, fil.j fronde glaberrima lanceolata pinnata, pinnis profunde pin- 

 natifidis lineari-oblongis obtusis integerrimis venis furcatis, soris ad angulum venularum v. medio venulse 

 simplicis insertis, raclii squamulis bullatis sparsis ornata stipiteque glaberrima. — Polypodium invisum Worst 

 Prodr. ? Aspidium squamulosum, Kaulf. in Sieber, Col. Ml. v. 1. n. 2. Lastrea, Presl, Pterid. Aspidium 

 Thelypteris, var. squamigerum, SchlecM. Adumb. p. 23. t. xi. 



Hab. Northern Island, Forster. Bay of Islands and East Coast, Colenso. 



This is a South African species, and so closely allied to the English N. thelypteris, that I can find no character 

 whereby to distinguish them, except the scattered, deciduous, bullate scales on the young fronds of this. I am far 



