364 Trmisactions. — Botany. 



green, sub-succulent, with a continuous, narrow, wliite-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 ; 

 pinncB alternate, free, not crowded, longest pinna isosceles-triangular very 

 acummate, 9^ 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 ; pinnae at base of frond very small, 2-2|^ 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 ; hah-s 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 unhke that of a Cibotium. 



Hah. — In hilly shaded forests, western slopes of Euahine Kange, 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 

 DicksonicB, rendering it difficult to discriminate species, — especially from 

 merely dried specimens and portions of fronds. Here, however, the pecuhar 

 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 

 distinct 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 theu' peculiar and never- 

 varying natural microscopical characters ; — much as now obtains among 

 the Hepatic(B and Musci, the JJmhellifercR and Composite. This species is 

 a very handsome growing plant, with its bold fine-sjoreading crown ; in its 

 manner of growth resembling its neighbours Aspidiam aculeatuni^^ 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 

 handsome fern is therein described, I do 7iot subscribe to its being identical with the 

 British species of that name. 



