Lomariaj I. — filices. 67 



longer, with narrower, more distant segments, which are usually 

 linear, obtuse, and either spreading or curved upwards. 



Synonyms. — L. linearis. Col; Stegania alpina, S. Br.; Poly podium 

 Penna-marina, Poiret. 



Distribution. — Temperate S. America, Tasmania, Alps of S.E. 

 Australia ; also in the Chatham Islands. 



This is a very common fern in both islands of New Zealand, 

 chiefly in mountainous regions, though it frequently descends to the 

 sea-level. In Otago it is abundant up to 3,000 ft. 



It is a very hardy and vigorous species, thriving most luxuriantly 

 under cultivation, and when once established needs little attention 

 beyond that requisite to keep it within due limits. 



7. L. banksii, Hook./. (Pi. ii. fig. 8.) 



Rhizome short, stout, woody, ascending at the summit, covered 

 with matted fibres and above with reddish lanceolate scales. Stipes 

 .2-4 in. long, erect, dark-coloured, scaly below. Fronds tufted, 

 numerous, coriaceous, quite glabrous ; sterile 6-18 in. long, about 

 1 in. broad, very narrowly lanceolate ; segments numerous, close-set, 

 broadly oblong or semi-orbicular, rounded, entire, very broad at the 

 base, lower often forming a wing to the stem ; fertile shorter and 

 more slender, segments narrower and more distant. 



Confined to New Zealand, where, though ranging from the North 

 Cape to Stewart Island, it is rather local in its occurrence. In the 

 Auckland district it is extremely rare and local; it has been recorded 

 from North Cape, Kawau, Little Barrier Island, &o. Further south 

 it becomes more common, but is nowhere abundant. It occurs in 

 many localities on the East and West Coasts of Otago district. 



It grows readily in cultivation, but requires a shady spot and 

 abundant supply of moisture. 



8. L. pumila, Haoul 



Rhizome slender, creeping, clothed with blunt, chaffy, reddish 

 ^scales at the apex ; roots wiry. Stipes 1-4 in. long, slender, chaffy 

 at the base. Fronds tufted, membranous, 3-5 in long, lanceolate ; 

 .sterile about J in. broad ; segments spreading, ovate or ovate-oblong, 

 ^-^ in. long, obtuse, crenate ; fertile fronds with longer stipes ; seg- 

 ments linear-oblong, obtuse, rather distant and more or less decurrent 

 .at the base. 



This fern was gathered by M. Raoul during one of the visits 

 ■of the French frigate L'Auhe to Akaroa, either in 1840-41 or in 

 1842-43, and since then has apparently never been found again. 



9. L. procera, Sprengel. Jtt-^i, A-^r^ 



Rhizome rather short, stout, woody, clothed with large reddish 

 scales. Stipes 6-12 in. long, stout, erect, scaly below. Fronds very 

 / y s?-x ... - ^ z*.^^, /r. ^ / ,:. -r^/ . 



