32 I. — PiLiCEs. [Dicksonia 



Ruahine Range, at the head of the river Manawatu (Colenso, " Trans. 

 N.Z. Inst.," vol. xii. p. 363). 



Distribution. — Tasmania and Eastern Australia, where it grows 

 to a height of 30-40 ft., and with a trunk 4 ft. in diameter. Ap- 

 parently also in New Caledonia. 



In N.Z. the species is more limited than J), sguarrosa, 

 apparently not occurring north of Tauranga, on the E. Coast, or 

 Ngaruawahia, on the W. Coast of the North Island. In the 

 interior of the island, however, it is common, and is abundant in the 

 forests of the South Island, where it ascends to a height of 3,000 ft. 



It is an easily-cultivated species, and is one of the commonest 

 tree-ferns to be found in the fern-houses of European and American 

 cultivators. 



3. D. lanata, Col. 



Stem wanting or short, not exceeding 4-5 ft. high, covered with 

 the bases of old fronds, but without matted root fibres. Fronds 

 1-7 ft. long, bi- or tri-pinnate, very coriaceous, broadly lanceolate or 

 elliptical ; stipes very long, furnished at the base with long dense 

 purplish hairs; rachis glabrous; primary pinnse 6-12 in. long, 

 oblong, acuminate ; secondary 1 ^-3^ in. long, linear, acuminate ; 

 segments broadly oblong, obtusely toothed. (The fertile pinnce are 

 narrower than the barren, and are often pinnate again, while the 

 others which have the segments deltoid in form are only lobed or 

 pinnatifid.) Sori crowded, 6-12 on each segment, filling up the 

 whole of it except the midrib. 



Synonym. — D. Isevis, Heward. 



This species is confined to the forests of New Zealand. It is 

 common in the north of Aiickland province, where it is usually 

 furnished with a short trunk, while to the south it assumes the 

 stemless habit. It is very local in its distribution, occurring in 

 several localities in the Taupo district, at Cape Colville, at the 

 Thames at elevations of 1,200-1,800 ft., and probably throughout 

 the interior of the North Island. It is also found in the South 

 Island, along the W. Coast as far as Okarita, and down the E. 

 Coast to Banks' Peninsula, where, however, it is by no means 

 common. 



Genus VI.— LOXSOMA,* Br. (PI. I. fig. 6.) 



Rhizome stout, woody, creeping. Fronds erect, coriaceous,. 

 3-pinnate, opaque. Sori marginal, in the sinus of the teeth or lobes, 

 terminating a vein, inclined backwards. Involucre urceolate, coria- 

 ceous; mouth entire, truncate. Capsules pedicelled, with a short 

 broad incomplete oblique ring, opening vertically. Receptacle 

 elongate, much exserted, furnished with jointed hairs among the 

 capsules. 



* 6r. Lo^os, oblique ; soma, a band, referring to the ring of the capsule. 



