864 Transactions,— Botany. 
green, sub-succulent, with a continuous, narrow, white-ridged, glabrous line, 
extending from pinna to pinna on both sides throughout their whole length. 
Frond obovate or cuneate, profoundly tapering downwards, or somewhat of 
a rhomboidal figure having two of its sides excessively produced, tripinnate, 
acuminate at tip, about 40 jugate, 6 feet long, broadest at 20 inches from 
apex, and there 18-20 inches in diameter, greatly attenuated downwards ; 
pinne alternate, free, not crowded, longest pinna isosceles-triangular very 
. acuminate, 94 inches long and 3 inches broad at base (broadest part), but 
rapidly decreasing in breadth, being, at 2 inches from base, only 2 inches 
broad; pinne at base of frond very small, 2-23 inches long, and distant, 
only 6-7 in the lowest foot on both sides, and fully 15-18 inches from lower 
end of rhachis before any approach to pairs; pinnules petiolate, straight 
or inclined forwards, triangular, 12-14 lines long, 4-5 lines broad, broadest 
at base, very acute, alternate; segments not crowded, oblong-ovate, sub- 
falcate, alternate, sessile, save lowermost pair on pinnule, decurrent, sharply 
toothed, the largest barren ones having 10-11 acute, almost spiny, teeth, 
fertile ones with fewer teeth and sub-revolute; texture membranaceous, 
both sides more or less hairy, particularly on mid-rib of pinnules; hairs on 
upper surface loose, hoary; veins pinnate, veinlets forked at apex, some 
simple, free ; sori, generally four on largest segment, small, not crowded; 
involucres very globose and inflated, margins entire ; valves large, especially 
the outer one which is cucullate, and partly composed of a different texture 
from that of the frond—not unlike that of a Cibotium. 
Hab.—In hilly shaded forests, western slopes of Ruahine Range, head of 
river Manawatu, 1877-80. 
This fern in some respects approaches to our D. fibrosa, but is very 
distinct. There is a common family resemblance among most of the large 
Dicksonie, rendering it difficult to discriminate species,—especially from 
merely dried specimens and portions of fronds. Here, however, the peculiar 
hairs afford a good character, also the sori and the striking outline of the 
frond (there are also others more or less minute). The very local and 
distinet D. arborescens, of St. Helena, the type of the genus, has also similar 
moniliform hairs. The time is rapidly approaching when ferns will be more 
truly and naturally classified (as to species) by their peculiar and never- 
varying natural microscopical characters ;—much as now obtains among 
the Hepatice and Musci, the Umbellifere and Composite. This species is 
a very handsome growing plant, with its bold fine-spreading crown ; in its 
manner of growth resembling its neighbours Aspidium aculeatum* and 
Lomaria discolor—but is as a giant among them! I have known it for 
“In giving the name from the * Handbook, New Zealand Flora," by which this 
dsome fern is therein described, Ido not subscribe to its being identical with the 
British species of that name. 
