Colenso. — Descriptions of new Indigenous Plants. 257 



relationship between this fern (H. lophocarpum) and H. protrusum, Hook. ; 

 which species Baker has more recently (in his " Synopsis") united with H. 

 polyanthos. While from H. polyanthos and H. polyanthos, /3. minor (Bedd. 

 Perns Brit. India, tt. 280 and 306), H. blumeanum, pycnocarpum, and in- 

 tegrum, (Van den Bosch, Hymen. Java, tt. 36, 37, 38), which ferns Clarke 

 unites with H. polyanthos, as being one species (?) and not even sub- varieties, 

 — this fern of mine disagrees still more strongly. Of H. sanguinolentum I 

 might say the same ; but seeing it is not now recognized as a distinct 

 species or variety by modern authorities, and omitted altogether by Baker 

 from his " Synopsis ;" while Swartz himself observed of it, that it was very 

 near to his H. clavatum (another Jamaica fern), differing only in form and 

 colour, — and both of these ferns were long ago included by Sir W. J. 

 Hooker, in his " Sp. Filicum," as forming but one species with H. 

 polyanthos — I have no need to remark especially upon it. 



In fine : this species (H. lophocarpum) differs from H. polyanthos and its 

 several synonymous allies (supra), in outline, in appearance, in colour, in 

 substance both of stem and lamina of frond, in shape of segments and 

 lobes, in position form and appendages of involucre, in the receptacle and 

 sporangia, and in its peculiar hairs. In its fresh natural and perfect state, 

 it is one of the very handsome New Zealand species of this lovely genus of 

 ferns. I have thus written largely on it, after a prolonged and patient 

 investigation, for the sake of future working botanists. 

 Genus 22. Polypodium, Linn. 

 1. Polypodium rupestre, Br., var. sinuatum, Col. 



Bhizome long, rather stout, creeping, branched, climbing trees, scaly ; 

 scales ovate-acuminate, light brown, fixed by centre. Fronds scattered but 

 not distant, erect, of 2 or more forms tapering into long and very slender 

 stipes, somewhat coriaceous, margins recurved, veins largely anastomosing 

 and visible between eye and the light, densely covered with white stellate 

 hairs ; hairs 10-11-rayed with brown centres, giving the plant a finely 

 spotted appearance ; barren fronds 4-5 \ inches long, 1-1 J inches wide, 

 rhomboid- and oblong-lanceolate, coarsely sinuate, almost crenate ; fertile 

 8-8^ inches long, 8 lines wide, broadly lanceolate, margins sinuate, tips 

 sub-acute ; stipes of both barren and fertile fronds 2 inches long, with a 

 thick cluster of imbricated scales at bases ; base-scales ovate-acuminate, 

 minutely tuberculate. Sori rather small, often oblong, and distant. 



Hah. On living trees, woods, Seventy-mile Bush, between Matamau 

 and Danneverke, County of Waipawa ; 1883-84 (also in woods, East 

 Coast): W.C. 



Obs. A very fine and striking variety (as I take it) of the well-known 

 and common Polypodium rupestre ; it is not only a much larger plant than 

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