Trichomanes] i. — filices. 45- 



Genus VIII.— trichomanes,* Smith. (PI. I. fig. 8.) 



Fronds filmy, usually pellucid, in textui-e like those of Hymen- 

 ophyllum, and (except T. reniforme) formed of a single layer of cells, 

 simple or pinnate or 2-3-pinnatifid ; segments with one stout simple 

 or branched midrib. Sori marginal, always terminating a vein, more 

 or less sunk in the frond ; involucre elongate, tubular or campanu- 

 late ; the mouth truncated or winged, or slightly 2-lipped. Recep- 

 tacle filiform, elongated, often considerably exserted beyond the 

 mouth of the involucre, bearing the capsules chiefly at the base. Cap- 

 sules sessile, depressed, surrounded by a complete, broad, nearly 

 transverse ring, bursting vertically. 



I. — Fronds small, pendulous, more or less 



piibescent with stellate hairs 1 . T. lyallii. 



II. — Fronds quite glabrous. 



Fronds simple, reniform, erect 2. T. reniforme. 



Fronds very delicate, 1-4 in. long, pin- 

 natifid ; rachis winged throughout. 

 Midrib simple 3. T. humile. 



Fronds very delicate, 2-5 in. long, pin- 

 natifid, rachis only winged above. 

 Midrib branched 4. T. venosum. 



Fronds very delicate, 1-4 in. long, pimiate; 



rachis quite free 5. T. colensoi. 



Fronds erect, 4-10 in. long, lanceolate, 

 3-4-pinnatifid, membranous, pale- 

 green 6. T. strictum. 



Fronds erect, 4-10 in. long, ovate or del- 

 toid, 3-4-pinnatifid, subcoriaceous, 

 dark-green 7. T. rigidum. 



1. T. lyallii, Hook. 



A small species jjendulous from trees and rooks ; rhizome capillary.. 

 Stipes 1-2 in. long, filiform. Fronds i-2 in. long, suborbicular in 

 outline, flabellately divided nearly to the base into narrow-linear 

 segments, which are obtuse and entire or minutely toothed ; midrib 

 and margins covered with stellate pubescence. Sori 3 or 4, terminal 

 on the segments ; involucres obconic, sunk in. the frond ; lips cUiated, 

 not dUated. 



Synonym. — Hymenophyllum lyallii. Hook. f. 



Bistributio7i. — Confined to New Zealand. In the North Island it 

 occurs in the district immediately to the north of Auckland, also on 

 the Great Barrier Island at 2,000 ft. (which Mr. Kirk considers its 

 northern limit), and is common at the Thames at 2,700 ft. In the 



* Gr. Thrix, tricJws, a hair ; maiws, soft ; referring to the delicate texture of 

 the fronds. 



