€6 I. — FiLicES. [Lomaria 



abundant species in a few parts. Mr. Potts states that it is very 

 common on Banks' Peninsula and the Malvern Hills. 



It is a hardy species, and thrives very well under cultivation. 



4. L. lanceolata, Sprengel. 

 Rhizome stout, often ascending into a trunk, 1-2 ft. high. Stipes 

 3-6 in. long, firm, erect, dark-brown, with blackish subulate scales at 

 the base. Fronds tufted, erect, 6-18 in. long, pale-green, rather 

 membranous ; sterile 2-4 in. broad, lanceolate, very gradually nar- 

 rowing below ; segments numerous, close-set, 1-1^ in. long, oblong- 

 lanceolate, slightly falcate, entire, sinuous or crenate, veins promi- 

 nent ; fertile segments linear, spreading or falcate, acuminate. 



[ _ Synonyms, — ^L. blechnoides, Bory. ; Stegania lanceolata, R. Br. 



Distribution. — Tasmania, Australia, several of the Polynesian 

 Islands and var. blechnoides, from Chili ; also in the Auckland, 

 Campbell and Chatham Islands. 



This is one of the most abundant fei-ns in New Zealand, and 

 ranges from N. Cape to Stewart Island. It is also very hardy, and 

 is one of the most easily cultivated of all our ferns. 



L. acuminata, Baker, 



is a species intermediate between L. lanceolata and L. attemcata, but 

 is only known from Kermadec and Norfolk Islands, and has therefore 

 no need to be described here. 



5. L. dura, Moore. 

 Rhizome erect. Stipes 1-2 in. long, thick, erect, with ova't 

 lanceolate scales at the base. Fronds tufted, 1 ft. or more long, 

 lanceolate, cut down to the rachis below, thick and leathery ; sterile 

 dwarfed below into rounded lobes ; middle segments oblong, sub- 

 falcate, upper ones narrower and more aciiminate ; fertile with 

 crowded segments which are broad and very blunt, decurrent at 

 the base above, ultimately becoming involute. Sori very densely 

 crowded ; involucre transversely wrmkled, the margin fringed. 



Synonym. — L. rigida, J. Smith. 



Distribution. — Originally described from the Chatham Islands, 

 but since found to occur in many localities round the E., S. and S.W. 

 coasts of the South Island, and also in the Auckland Islands. It 

 has been gathered at Banks' Peninsula, Catlin River, Bluff Hill and 

 at some of the Sounds in the S.W. of Otago. It is only found close 

 to the sea, frequently in situations where it is exposed to the spray. 



6. L. alpina, Sprengel. ^ 



Rhizome slender, wide-creeping, clothed with reddish, lanceolate/^ 

 chaffy scales. Stipes 4-8 in. long, slender, brown, sparingly scalv. ' 

 Fronds coriaceous, 3-18 in. long, i-| in. broad, linear ; sterile with 

 numerous linear-oblong, obtuse segments about ^-^ in. long ; fertile 



