956 Transactions.— Botany. 
Mr. Bentham in his * Flora Australiensis" of Peplidium and Microcarpea, 
two genera closely allied to Glossostiyma, I find that the style is described 
as “ short, dilated into a broad spathulate lamina curved over the stamens,’ 
being almost the same language made use of in describing the pistil of 
Glossostigma. It would be interesting to know whether these two genera 
possess the singular irritability now noticed. 
Arr. XLVIIL.— Description of a new Species of Polypodium. 
By T. F. Currsemay, F.L.S. 
[Read before the Auckland Institute, 19th November, 1877.] 
Durme an excursion made in January last for the purpose of examining the 
vegetation of the district between the Waipa River and Raglan, I was greatly 
interested by collecting an evidently undeseribed species of Polypodium at 
an altitude of about 2,000 feet on the Pirongia Mountain. A few days 
later, the same plant was gathered on the summit of the isolated mountain 
Karioi, between Raglan and Aotea. As in all probability it will be found 
that the species extends from these two localities southwards through the 
little known Upper Waipa and Mokau districts, and perhaps even still 
further south, I have thought it advisable to draw up a brief account of its 
distinguishing characters in order that the attention of collectors in other 
parts of the colony may be directed to it. I will not, however, confer a 
name upon the species, as this may have been already done in England, 
specimens having been forwarded to Kew immediately after its discovery. 
Polypodium (Phymatodes ), sp. nov. 
Rhizome stout, woody, as thick as the fore-finger, densely clothed with 
large tawny ovate-lanceolate spreading scales. Stipes 6-12 inches long, 
quite glabrous, erect, smooth, and glossy. Frond dark green, 1-2 feet in 
length, 8-12 inches broad, in the upper part cut, down to within a short 
distance of the rachis, into numerous linear acuminate entire lobes ; sub- 
pinnate below. Lobes varying in number from 5-14 on a side, 4-8 inches 
long, usually about j inch wide, lower ones oftén narrowed towards their 
bases. In large specimens it often happens that the lower lobes are free 
to the main rachis, so that the frond might be described as pinnate in the 
lower half. Texture sub-coriaceous, or sometimes almost papyraceous ; 
both sides quite glabrous ; main veins indistinct, areole rather large, with 
included free veinlets. Sori rather small, in a single row, nearer the 
margin than the midrib, slightly immersed. 
eats oer ee ee VL 
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