S56 Transactions. — Botanij. 



Mr. Bentliam iii his "Flora Aiistraliensis" of PejjUdium and Microcarpcea, 

 two genera closely allied to Glossosligma, I find that the style is described 

 as " short, dilated into abroad 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. 



Akt. XL VIII. — Description of a new Species of Polypodium. 

 By T. F. Cheeseman, F.L.S. 

 [Bead before the Auckland Institute, 19th November, 1877.] 

 During an excursion made in January last for the purpose of examining the 

 vegetation of the district between the Waipa Eiver and Raglan, I was greatly 

 interested by collecting an evidently undescribed species of Polypocliuni 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 (Plujmatocles), sp. nov. 

 Rhizome stout, woody, as thick as the fore-finger, densely clothed with 

 large tawny ovate-lanceolate spreading scales. Stipes 6-12 mches 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 hnear acuminate entire lobes ; sub- 

 pinnate below. Lobes varying in number from 5-14 on a side, 4-8 inches 

 long, usually about h inch wide, lower ones often 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, areola rather large, with 

 included free veinlets. Sori rather small, in a single row, nearer the 

 margin than the midrib, slightly immersed. 



