1/ 



44 



Petioles repeatedly dichotomous, the last branches bearing a 

 pair of bipinnate pinnae. The bud in the axil between these 

 pinnae is densely covered with stiff, black, ovate pubescent 

 scales, which are about i line long and cordate. The rachides 

 are plano-convex and sparingly clad with scales like those of the 

 bud. The tender tips of the pinnae are tomentose wnth light- 

 brown cobwebby wool. The pinnae are subcoriaceous, glaucous 

 beneath, oblong, 2-4 ft. long, and broadest about the middle. 

 The pinnules are 40-50 on a side, linear, 6-9 inches by ^-2 

 inches, subsessile or shortly stipitate, with an even-sided truncate 

 base, acuminate, deeply pinnatifid to the rachis near the base. 

 The ultimate segments are linear, i-i}4 lines broad, obtuse; the 

 lowest pair longest and often reflexed over the rachis. Veins 

 distinct, almost vertical, simple, or forking near the base. The 

 sori are dorsal on the anterior branch or at the fork, frequently 

 one to each vein, each comprising 3 or 4 sporangia. 



This species, although nowhere abundant, occurs on all the 

 large islands of the group, in the rain-forests, at elevations of 

 2,000-4,000 ft. It is also native to Japan, China, Malaysia, 

 tropical Australia, and Polynesia. The Hawaiian Islands repre- 

 sent its northernmost geographic limit in the Polynesian area. 

 It is often found in the same habitats as G. Haivaiiensis, but does 

 not mingle with the latter, and is readily recognized by its 

 bipinnate frondose portions. On the island of Oahu it is not 

 uncommon along the summit ridges of the main ranges, Ko'olau 

 and Waianae, and appears to maintain itself successfully along 

 the wind-swept crests and windward precipices. It forms much 

 larger clumps or thickets than does G. Haivaiiensis, but never 

 makes the extensive jungles on the lower skirts of the forests, as 

 does G. dichotoma. 



3. Gleichenia emarginata (Brack.) Hbd. 



Dicranopteris emarginata (Brack.) Robins.; Gleichenia dichotoma 



Hook. var. emarginata Hbd.; Mertensia emarginata Brack. 



This species closely resembles G. dichotoma, but is a much 



larger and stouter plant. The petioles are muricate at the base, 



and are scantily villous. The leaf-blades are thick coriaceous, 



