Corzxso.—On new Ferns. 481 
also obtained specimens of similar plants from the eastern slopes of the 
Ruahine Mountain forests, as well as from smaller woods near the sea on 
the east coast. 
In general appearance this species is by far the handsomest of our 
(known) New Zealand Tree-ferns, its ample fronds having much less 
rigidity than those of the other larger species. Of my garden-plant the 
fronds shoot early in spring, and grow remarkably fast, at the rate of about 
4} inches longitudinally per diem; the outer ones, however, die rather early 
in summer, owing, I believe, to the extreme dryness of the soil on the 
limestone hill where it is growing; and, in dying, their very large and thick 
stipes bend down abruptly at a few inches above their junction with the 
trunk, but not so as to bring the withered fronds near to the plant. 
II. HYMENOPHYLLUM. 
Hymenophyllum erecto-alatum, sp. nov. 
Plant terrestrial, sarmentose; rhizome glabrous; roots and rootlets densely 
villous with long dark-brown hairs. 
Frond membranous, bright grass-green colour, 3-4 inches long, 2-3 inches 
broad, mostly decurved or bent, somewhat ovate, tripennatifid ; main rachis, 
and also secondary rachises winged throughout; wings very much crisped and 
narrowly undulated and vertical, situated nearer to the upper surface and 
so giving a sulcated appearance. 
Stipes distant from each other on rhizome, cylindrical, stout, woody, 
wiry, irregular, bent and curved, 4-5 inches long, always longer than the 
frond, light coloured, slightly winged above, wings decreasing gradually 
downwards for 1-2 in. 
Segments pinnatifid ; lobes narrow, very close together, obtuse and entire. 
Involucres on lateral segments, rather large, sub-orbicular, open, free, ' 
lips toothed ; sori semi-exserted and coloured red. 
This fern is naturally allied to H. demissum (although that is a very 
much larger species), but in several respects it differs from it,—not even 
belonging to the same (artificial) section; of which Sir J. Hooker says :— 
“ Frond pinnate below, stipes not winged, rachis winged above only." 
(Handbook). In all which characters our fern widely differs; also, in its 
smaller size, colour, closeness of segments, involucres, clusters of sori, etc., 
etc. The peculiarity of its being almost vertically winged gives it a striking 
appearance, which, together with the bright light-green of its frond, and the 
red colour of its large clusters of prominent sori, catches the eye at first 
sight, in its fresh state. Fruitful fronds, however, are rather scarce. 
Hab: oe anei EP dien of eio dry forests near Norse« 
