Lindsaya] i. — filices. 61 



1. L. linearis, Svjartz. (Pi. II. fig. 2, a and 6.) 



Rhizome wiry, creeping, and scaly. Stipes 4-8 in. long, wiry, 

 flexuous, black or purplish, shining. Fronds 6-18 in. long, very 

 narrow, linear, simply pinnate, rather coriaceous, bright^green ; 

 pinnse distant, -^ in. long, more or less one-sided, cuneate or iiabellate, 

 toothed chiefly along the upper edge. Sori in a continuous line along 

 the upper edge. 



Distribution. — Australia, Tasmania and New Caledonia ; also, 

 eastward to the Chatham Islands. ^ 



In New Zealand the range of this fern is from North Cape 

 to Stewart Island, but it is not an abundant fern eveiy where, being' 

 rather local in its occurrence. It is to be found on stony and rooky 

 ground, often in open, swampy country. In Canterbury and Otago 

 it is rather rare, but reappears abundantly in a somewhat depau- 

 perated condition in Stewart Island, where it grows in cold, wet, and 

 spongy peat mosses. 



Though growing often in such imattractive-looking spots, and 

 proving itself quite a hardy species in a state of nature, this fern is 

 a most troublesome one to cultivate — and the remark apparently 

 applies to all the species we have. When transplanted from its 

 original habitat, the plant almost invariably fades away, and fails to 

 put forth new fronds. 



2. L. viridis, Colenso. (PI. II. fig. 2.) 



Rhizome short, with tufted fronds. Stipes 1-3 in. long, 3-gonous, 

 shining, naked except at the base, where it is furnished with a tuft 

 of linear brown scales. Fronds 6-12 in. long, lanceolate, acuminate, 

 bright-green, membranous, 2- or 3-pinnate ; main rachis flexuous ; 

 pinnse alternate, ascending, 1-1|^ in. long, obliquely- or rhomboid- 

 lanceolate ; pinnules simple, lobed or cut to the base into 2-4 linear 

 cuneate segments ; veins obscure, usually simple. Sori narrow. 



Distribution. — Confined to New Zealand, where, however, it is both 

 rare and very local. The following localities are given on the 

 .authority of Mr. T. Kirk, to whom our botanists are much indebted 

 for the unravelling of the confusion which had arisen about this 

 species: — JV. Island: Port Fitzroy, Great Barrier Island, plentiful 

 about waterfalls ; Manukau, Te Whau, Mangarewa, Wanganui River. 

 aSI Island : Massacre Bay, Hokitika, West Coast of Otago. The 

 habitat of this fern is always characteristic ; it only occurs on rocks, 

 in humid situations, and particularly where it can receive a con- 

 tinuous drip. 



In the " Synopsis Filicum," L. microphylla, Swartz, is said to occur 

 in New Zealand. It is, however, solely an Australian species. The 

 misconception arose from L. viridis having been first placed as a 

 variety or form of L. trichomanoides by Sir W. Hooker, but after- 

 wards separated from it and united to L. microphylla by Mr. Baker 

 .under which name it appears in both editions of the "Synopsis." 



