898 Transactions. — Botany. 



specimens I have seen were growing on vertical dripping rocks at the Huia 

 Creek ; some of the fronds are fully sixteen inches long, but not quite so 

 wide as shorter fronds of more lax habit grown on a horizontal surface at 

 Port Fitzroy. In some places where it has the advantage of a continuous 

 supply of moisture, it is exposed to the glare of the sun for a portion of the 

 day, but with little appreciable effect on its delicate texture. 



In an immature state this species may easily be mistaken for a Davallia 

 from its narrow sori, which are never wider than twice their depth, and do 

 not extend to the lateral margins of the segments. Mr. Baker points out 

 that " the anterior valve is a continuation of the lamina, while the posterior 

 valve is membranous, both alike incised." 



The affinities of Lindsaya viridis are with L. trichomanoides, Dryand., 

 and L. microjjhylla, Swartz. The former differs from our plant in its 

 creeping, chaffy rhizomes, broadly ovate coriaceous fronds, spreading, usually 

 opposite pinnae, and fan-shaped segments with branched vein s ; it is confined 

 to forests, and extends from the North Cape to Dusky Bay. L. 77iicrophylla 

 is confined to temperate Australia, and is distinguished from L. viridis by 

 its larger size, more distant pinnaB, and the sori forming a continuous 

 marginal line, the width being more than twice the depth. L. viridis is 

 endemic in New Zealand. L. trichomanoides is found also in Tasmania, 

 New South Wales, and Fiji. 



Art. LIX. — On Nephrodium decompositum, Br., and N. glabellum, 

 A. Cunn. By T. Kirk, F.L.S. 

 [Bead before the Wellington Philosophical Society, 1st December, 1877.] 

 In the " Hand-book of the New Zealand Flora " these plants are considered 

 identical ; in the "Flora Novse-Zelandige," the second is described as a variety 

 of the first. They are, however, so easily recognized at sight that a singular 

 unanimity of opinion prevails amongst New Zealand botanists in favour of 

 their being considered specifically distinct. I purpose, therefore, briefly to 

 examine the differential characteristics of the two plants. 



In N. decompositum the rhizome is elongated, slender, more or less clothed 

 with chaffy scales and the distant bases of old fronds ; it is frequently 

 branched and extensively creeping so that the plant often forms patches 

 several yards in diameter. Fronds erect, solitary, distant, never tufted or 



