Pellcea] I. — filices. 59- 



linear- or oblong-lanceolate, more or less falcate, acute or mucronate, 

 broadly obKquely cuneate or cordate at the base, coriaceous and 

 glabrous. Sori in broad marginal lines, soon hiding the narrow 

 involucre. 



Synonym. — Platyloma falcata, J. Sm. 



Distribution. — India, Malay Peninsula, Australia, Tasmania, and 

 Kennadec Islands. /i^i 



Rather a rare fern in 'New Zealand, occurring in the North Island <*' 

 in various spots from the Thames to the Bay of Islands, and in the 

 South Island only recorded from Dun Mountain near Nelson. 

 According to Mr. Potts, to whom we are indebted for the last 

 locality, this plant is jjarticularly easy of cultivation, and is most 

 readily propagated from the wide-creeping rhizome. 



3. P. rotundifolia, SooL (PL ll. fig. 6.) 



Rhizome shortly creeping, stout, scaly. Stipes 6-12 in. long, stout, 

 erect, hispid and more or less covered with linear, chafiy scales. 

 Fronds tufted, 6-12 in. long, 1-liin. broad, narrow-linear; rachis 

 scaly and tomentose; prunse in 10-20 pairs, oblong or rounded, 

 obtuse or mucronate, rounded or obliquely truncate at the base, 

 coriaceous, glabrous. Sori in a broad marginal — often interrupted — 

 line, soon hiding the involucre. 



Synonym. — Platyloma rotundifolia, J. Sm. 



Distribution. — Norfolk and Chatham Islands. ^'^'^'. 



Very generally distributed throughout both islands, from N. Cape' 

 to Foveaux Straits, though rare in the moist forest regions of the 

 West Coast. Though rather fond of shade, this fern seems to prefer 

 dry rocky soil ; it is a very free grower under cultivation, and readily 

 repays any attention it receives in its increased luxuriance. Inter- 

 mediates occur frequently between this and the preceding species, 

 and though the typical forms are distinct and easily separated, these 

 intermediates are often very puzzling. 



Genus XVI.— PTERIS,* D. (PL II. fig. 7.) 



Rhizome usually creeping. Fronds very various, mostly tall and 

 very compound ; veins forked, free or netted. Sori linear, continuous 

 along the margin of the frond ; involucres slender, filiform, usually 

 membranous, at first covering the sorus, at length more spreading. 



I. — Veins /o^-ked, free. 



Fronds more or less tufted, tall, 2- or 

 3-pinnate ; lower pinnae usually 

 very compound ; membranous and 

 glabrous 1. P. tremula. 



* Gr. Pteron, a wing, from its pinnae ; the typical name now for all ferns. 



