T. KiEK. — On a new Species of Hymenopliyllum. 457 



catkins are closely appressecl, and ascending, but when the sporangia dis- 

 charge their contents the tips of the scales become patent or even reflesed. 

 The points of the young shoots are often of a reddish colour, and when 

 growing in exposed situations the leaves become harsh and pungent. 



Not unfrequently two spikes are produced from the apex of a branch, 

 and rarely the fertile branch is overtopped by a luxuriant " usurping shoot," 

 so that the spike appears to be lateral, showing its close af&nity with 

 L. laterale, which is still further strengthened by the fact that in that species 

 the spikes are not invariably sessile, but occasionally are developed on very 

 short leafy peduncles. 



It is worthy of note that in.L. laterale the spikes are frequently confined 

 to one side of the stem. ^ 



Our ]3lant has affinities also with L. clavatum, <p magellanicum. 



L. laterale and L. divulsum are considered distinct by Bentham, in Flora 

 Australiensis [Vol. VII., p. 675.] In New Zealand the latter form is not 

 confined to alpine districts, but occasionally occurs in peaty bogs, from the 

 sea level upwards, and notwithstanding its rigid appearance passes by 

 insensible gradations into the typical form of L. laterale. 



DESCEIPTION OF PLATE XIX., Fig. B. 



Lycopodium ramulosum, n. s. 



1. Old spike, with empty sporangia, enlarged. 



2. Bract, outer face, magnified. 



3. Bract, inner face with sporangium, magnified. 



4. Spores, highly magnified. 



Art. LXXIV. — Description of a new Species of Hymenophyllum. 

 By T. KiEK, F.L.S. 



Plate XIX., fig. A. 

 [Bead before the Wellington Philosophical Society ,Hth January, 1879. 

 Hymenophyllum rufescetiSt^ n.s. 

 Rhizome creeping slender ; stipes, costa and veins when young 

 sparingly clothed with deciduous curved hairs; stipes, very slender, 1-2 

 inches long, longer than the frond; frond 1-1 i- inches long, deltoid, 

 sometimes cuneate at the base, pinnate, rachis winged above the second 



a28 



