Trichomanes\ I. — filices. 47 



In New Zealand this pretty little fern is rather restricted in its 

 •distribution, though in the " N.Z. Handbook " it is said, on the 

 authority of Banks and Solander, to be abundant throughout both 

 islands. It is tolerably common throughout the whole of the North 

 Island, ascending to 2,000 ft. But it is very sparingly distributed 

 in the South Island, not occurring — as far as I am aware — to the 

 south of Banks' Peninsula, where it is reported by Mr. Armstrong 

 to be rare. 



4. T. venosum, Br. (PI. I. fig. 8.) ^ 



Rhizome capillary, wide-creeping, most frequently on the trunks y 

 of tree-ferns. Stipes 1-2 in. long, capillary, naked. Fronds pendu- - 

 lous, thinly membranous, shining, pellucid, 2-5 in. long, pinuatifid or 

 pinnate below, linear ; main rachis broadly winged above, free 

 below ; pinnse linear or linear- oblong, simple or pinnatifid, cuneate 

 at the base ; costre wavy, with alternate veins on each side. Sori 

 solitary on each pinna, axillary on the upper margin ; involucre 

 immersed, tubular or urceolate ; mouth dilated, shortly 2-lipped ; 

 receptacle capillary and exserted. 



Distribution. — S.E. Avistralia 'and Tasmania ; also Chatham 

 Islands. With us this fern is widely distributed, occurring freely in 

 both N. and S. Islands, and ranging into Stewart Island. It is 

 probably common wherever there is any extent of moist forest- 

 covered country. 



A form of this has recently been described by Mr. Colenso under 

 the name of T. venustula. 



5. T. colensoi, Book./. 



Phizome capillary, hairy, wide-creeping. Stipes about 1 in. long, 

 slender, naked. Fronds dark-green, very membranous, 1-4 in. long, 

 linear-oblong, acuminate, 1- or 2-pinnate ; pinnae 5-10 pairs, distant, 

 ovate or lanceolate-rhomboid, shoi-tly stalked, pinnate below, pin- 

 natifid above ; segments narrow-linear acute ; costse single in each 

 segment, not branched. Sori solitary, at the base of the segments, 

 the tube of the involucre stalked, cylindric, mouth scarcely dilated ; 

 receptacle very slender, exserted. 



This species is confined to New Zealand, and is by no means 

 •common. It was first found by Mr. Colenso at L. Waikare, and 

 occurs sparingly in the southern portions of the N. Island. In the 

 S. Island it has been recorded from Nelson, Okarita, Lake Wanaka, 

 and Banks' Peninsula, and probably is to be found at other localities 

 within the same areas. 



6. T. Strictum, Menzies. 



A very tufted species, sending up numerous fronds from its short, 

 stout rhizome. Stipes 3-4 in. long, stout, terete, very slightly 

 winged above or quite naked, but with red-brown bristles at the 

 base. Fronds erect, rather rigid, membranous, pale-green, 4-8 in. 



