854 Transactions.— Botany. 
sides of the lower rhachis. A peculiar abnormal very narrow stout linear 
segment (nearly all nerve) arises vertically from forking of nerves in some 
fronds. 
Hab. On rotten logs, forests, between Norsewood and Danneverke, 
Waipawa County, 1880-1882: W.C.; also young and barren, Great Barrier 
Islet, 1888: Mr. C. P. Winkelmann. 
Obs.—Not yet detected bearing fruit; the supposed ‘ inner scale,” as 
seen through the clear outer one, may prove to be the laciniate tips of the 
undeveloped calyptra, but if so it is very large and coloured. I know of no 
New Zealand species bearing a large and plain outer scale like this; 
although that of S. longistipa, mihi, (sp. nov., infra) approached it; it is a 
striking characteristic. Some immature fronds have been noticed more 
strongly forked, the fronds beginning at 2-3 lines above the branching 
stipe. 
T. Symphyogyna fetida, sp. nov. 
Plant (? monecious) gregarious; rhizome stout, succulent, creeping 
under soil; fronds stipitate, erect, mostly 2 inches high, and about 1 inch 
apart on rhizome. Stipe, 13 inch long, stout, green, succulent, sub-cylin- 
drical, compressed and dilated at top, with sometimes small warted tuber- 
cles (? antheridia) beneath on upper part. Frond, orbicular in outline 
when expanded, symmetrical, generally of a reniform appearance, 4—5 lines 
broad, 10-12 lines wide, multifid, divided into 2 (sometimes 3) main 
branches, each subdivided into 3 branchlets, and each branchlet again 
divided into 2-4 portions ; seyments numerous, usually 20-40, linear, entire, 
imbricate, slightly sinuate and waved, obtuse and emarginate; colour 
(adult) dark green. Fructification on the under surface (sometimes several 
on a frond), on the main stipe below first forking, and also on the branches 
above secondary forkings, arising from a gibbous tubercle; involucre a 
large sub-plicate scale, slightly laciniate; calyptra greenish white, cylin- 
drical, broad, smooth, membranaceous, truncate and dilated at apex; 
mouth very minutely and regularly toothed— sometimes 8 ealyptras on a 
single frond; capsule (immature within), oblong, blackish. 
Hab. In damp spots in dark woods, growing in large patches in rich 
soil near Matamau, Seventy-mile Bush, Waipawa County, 1883: W.C. 
Obs.—A very distinct and fine species, possessing a most disagreeable 
smell, its strong Alga-like odour resembling that of Chara fetida; this 
strong smell is retained by long-dried specimens and emitted on their being 
soaked, filling the room with its stink. The single fructification on the 
main stem is surrounded by several largish scales, some longer than the 
others, reminding of those of Steetzia lyellii. The natural affinities of this 
species are with S. flabellata, rugulosa, and longistipa (sp. nov., infra), 
though largely differing from them all, 
