90 I. — FiLiCES. [Polypodium 



distant, lanceolate, acuminate segments ; veins with large, irregular 

 areoles and copious free veinlets. Sori rather small, immersed, in; 

 one row, nearer the margin than the midrib. 



Synonyms. — P. membranifolium, Br. ; P. scandens, Forst. ; Phyma- 

 ^ todes pustulata, Presl. ; Pleopeltis pustulata, Moore. 



"^ Distribution. — Australia, from Victoria to Queensland, and in 

 Norfolk Island. Also in the Chatham Islands. 



A widely-ranging species in both islands of New Zealand ;. 

 abundant in the North Island and northern parts of the South 

 Island, but not very common in Otago. At the Thames it is- 

 abundant up to 2,000 ft. It is a fragrant fern, and was used by the 

 Maories for scenting oil, &c. 



9. P. billardieri, Br. (Pi. III. fig. 7, and frontispiece.) 



Rhizome stout, woody, creeping widely, with ovate-acuminate 

 appressed scales. Stipes 4-8 in. long, firm, glossy. Fronds varying 

 in shape, 3-18 in. long, lanceolate or oblong and quite entire, or 

 more or less deeply pinnatifid, with lanceolate or linear lobes ; erect 

 or pendulous, coriaceous ; glabrous ; veins irregular, with free 

 veinlets in the areoles. Sori large, immersed, in one row inter- 

 mediate between the margin and midrib, or nearer the former. 



Synonyms. — P. scandens, Lahill. ; P. diversifolium, Willd. ; 

 Phymatodes billardieri, Presl. ; Niphobolus glaber, Kaulf. 



Distribution Tasmania, Australia, and apparently New Oale- 



~ donia. Also in the Chatham, Auckland and Campbell Islands. 



An abundant fern throughout New Zealand, ranging from N. Cape 

 to Stewart Island, and ascending to 3,000 ft. Like the last, it is- 

 almost an epiphyte, but is frequently found growing on rocks or even 

 on the ground. It is most readily cultivated. 



10. P. novae-zselandise, Baker. 



Ehizome stout, woody, as thick as the forefinger, densely clothed 

 with large tawny ovate-lanceolate spreading scales. Stipes 6-12 in. 

 long, glabrous, erect, glossy. Fronds 1-2 ft., rarely 3-4 ft. long, 

 8-12 in. broad, cut above nearly to the rachis into numerous linear- 

 acuminate lobes, below almost pinnate ; lobes 5-20 on each side,. 

 4-8 in. long, | in. wide, entire, thinly coriaceous ; veins indistinct, 

 with large areoles and free included veinlets. Sori rather small, in 

 one row, nearer the margin than the midrib. 



Distribution. — Only found in the forest regions of the Nortli 

 Island. First discovered (in 1877) by Mr. T. F. Cheeseman on 

 Pirongia, and again on Karioi, between Paglan and Aotea, at about H 

 2,000 ft. elevation. Apparently also the same species has been 

 found by Mr. H. C. Field in the forest country to the west of 

 Euapehu. It grows chiefly on rotten logs, seldom on the ground,, 

 but apparently does not climb trees. 



