48 



FLORA OF NEW ZEALAND. 



[Filices. 



A common Fern in various parts of the world, as Australia, the Pacific, East Indian, and Malay Islands, 

 Madagascar, Bourbon, etc.— Fronds a span to 2 feet high, simple below, stout and rigid, dichotomously divided 

 above into numerous narrow, linear, flat, strap-shaped, costate segments, that are spread out like a fan. Appendix 

 2-3 lines long, broad and short, of four to eight pairs of pinna:, with crinite margins. 



Tribe YI. Osaxmmm.—Son naked. Capsules stalked, will a broad, dorsal, incomplete ring bursting 



vertically . Gen. XXXI. 



Gen. XXXI. LEPTOPTEEIS, Presl. 



Capsules pedicellatge, subglobosse, secus venulas dorso frondis sparse, reticulata;, gibbossc, gibbere 

 dorsali imo latere striate Fence furcate, libera.— Ehizoma crasmm, repens. Frondes erecta, bi-tripinnatce, 



Both the New Zealand species of this genus are amongst the most beautiful Ferns of these Islands, to which 

 they are quite peculiar, and their only near ally is the Australian L. Brazen.— Mizome stout. Fronds erect, bl- 

 tri-pinnate, deep green, translucent, membranous, crisp. Pinnules very small, cut into many linear lobes ; veins 

 forked, free. Capsules scattered over the back of the frond, placed on the veins, pedicelled, reticulated, except at a 

 protuberant part, which is striated on one side. Spores depressed, with a dark spot. (Name from Xvrros, mem- 

 branous, and 7TT6pts, a fern!) 



1. Leptopteris lymenophylloides, Presl; fronde deltoideo-ovata v. laneeolata, pinnis lineari-lanceolatis 

 acuminatis, pinnulis lineari-oblongis breviter stipitatis pinnatifidis, segmentis bi-trifidis, rachi stipiteque 

 floccoso-tomentosa v. glaberrima.— Todea, Presl, Suppl. Plerid. p. 71. A. Rich. Flor.p. 97. 1. 16. Hook, 

 et Bauer, Gen. Fil. t. 46 B. T. pellucicla, Cam. in Hook Bot. Misc. A. Cunn. Prodr. Hook. 1c. 



Plant. t.$. 



Hab. Northern and Middle Islands, as far south as Banks' Peninsula. Nat, name, "Hem-hem, 



Colenso. 



Fronds 4 inches to 2\ feet high, springing from a stout, erect, caulescent rhizome, deltoid-ovate or lanceolate, 

 the lower primary pinnse not becoming gradually smaller. Pinna linear-lanceolate, acuminate. Pinnules very 

 numerous, shortly stipitate, oblong, blunt, deeply pinnatifid ; divisions narrow, generally once or twice forked. Stipes 

 and racliis stout, more or less covered with floccose red-brown wool, i 



2. Leptopteris superla, Hook. ) fronde lanceolate basi angustata, pinnis inferioribus gradatim minoribus 

 deflexis, pinnis linearibus acuminatis, pinnulis ovatis inferioribus rachi appressis profunde pinnatifidis, 

 segmentis subintegris, rachi stipiteque crasso valido subfloccoso, caudice erecto.— fibo*. Io. PI. t. 910. 

 Todea, Col. in Tasm. Phil. Journ. 



Hab. Mountains of the east, south, and interior parts of the Northern Island, and throughout the 

 Middle and Southern Islands, Banks and Solander, Colenso, Lyall, etc. 



A truly magnificent Fern, similar in many respects to I. liymenophylloides, but readily distinguished by its 

 greater size, lanceolate fronds, deflexed lower pinns, which become gradually smaller, narrower pinnae, ovate often 

 crisped pinnules, the lower of which are appressed to and cover the surface of the nobis, and by the more simple 

 lobules. The caudex is short, erect, and crowned with a circle of the deep green fronds. 



Obs. I have a specimen of Todea Jfricana, Willd., from Dr. Sinclair, stated to have been gathered near Auck- 

 land, but I am uncertain as to its being indigenous to New Zealand, being far from a local plant m other countries 

 where it is found, as in Australia, the Cape of Good Hope, etc. It is readily distinguished from Leptopteris by 

 having coriaceous fronds. 



J 



