36 I. — EILICES. \Hymenophyllum 



A. tunbridgense, Sm. (proper). Segments rather close ; involucre 



sunk in the segments. (H. zeelandicum, V. den Bosch; 

 here also must be referred H. pusillum, Col) 



B. unilaterale, Willd. — Pinnse with few segments, which are pin- 



natifid on the upper side only ; involucre free, lips entire 

 (H. wUsoni, Hook. ; H. cupressiforme, Lab. ; H. revolutum 

 Gol.) 



The synonyms of this species are so numerous that it is quits 

 unnecessary to recapitulate them ; the above being the most familiar 

 The two chief forms are readily distinguished, but the intermediate- 

 gradations are so numerous that it is next to impossible to fix on 

 any distinctive characters of sufficient importance to be considered' 

 specific. 



"° Distribution. — -In most humid, temperate, and sub-tropical parts 

 of the world. Both forms occur in Britain. 



In N.Z. it ranges from the N. Cape to Stewart Island, and at all' 

 elevations from sea-level to 3,000 ft. ; var. B., though having the^ 

 same range as A, is more local, and is not so common. 



2. H. minimum, A. Rich. 



Rhizome filiform, wide-creeping ; stipes filiform, \-\ in. long. Frond 

 A-| in. long, pale-green, broadly ovate or deltoid, pinnate below, pin- 

 natifid above ; pinnse and segments entire or cut into linear obtuse 

 lobes, which are ciliate-toothed. Sori solitary, "^CTmuiating the- 

 main rachis only ; involucre free, stipitate, obovate-cuneate ; Kps 

 short, toothed. 



The solitary sorus is the most distinctive character of this pretty 

 little fern, which ranges outside of New Zealand only to the Auck- 

 land Islands. In the N. Island it occurs in. the neighbourhood of 

 Cook Strait, being " partial to shaded rocks near the sea ; " and it 

 has also been recorded from Wangaroa, in the extreme north of 

 Auckland peninsula. In the South Island it is much more abundant, 

 though not very common, being found along both the E. and "W. 

 Coasts, ascending in Otago to 3,000 ft. 



I cannot see by what characters H. pygmeeum — described by Mr. 

 Colenso (in " N.Z. Inst. Trans.," vol. xiii. p. 376) — is to be separated' 

 as more than a variety from this species. 



3. H. cheesemanii, Baker. 



A most minute tufted species, with filiform -wide-creeping rhizome. 

 Stipes filiform, \-\ in. long. Frond ^-| in. long, simple, forked or 

 palmately 3- or i-fid ; segments linear-oblong or ligulate, obtuse, one- 

 veined, strongly ciliate-toothed on the margins. Sori 1-3 to a frond, 

 terminal on the segments ; involucre orbicular, immersed at the base 

 only, valves roxmded, entire, much exceeding the very short tube. 



This miniature species has been found in the North Island among 

 moss on trees at Whangarei, Great Barrier Island, Hunua, Titirangi,. 



