Notochlcena] i. — filices. 91' 



Genus XXIV.— NOTOOHL^NA,* Br. (PI. III. fig. 8.) 



Fronds 2- or 3-pinnate, usually small, stiff, erect ; pinnse small- 

 Veins forked from the midrib or from the base of the segment. 

 Sori marginal, at first oblong or rounded, ultimately confluent into a/ 

 continuous marginal line, without a distinct involucre, but with the 

 margin of the frond frequently inflexed. 



A small genus differing from Clieilanthes only in the absence of a^ 

 distinct involucre ; connected with it by intermediate gradations. 

 The original name Notholoena of Brown's has been altered by most 

 botanists to A^otocMcena, 



1. N. distans, £r. 



Rhizome very short, stout, scaly. Stipes 1-5 in. long, wiry,- 

 chestnut-brown, more or less clothed with linear, reddish scales. 

 Fronds tufted, erect, rigid, 6-9 in. long, |-1 in. broad, linear^. 

 2-pinnate, upper surface dark-green and villous,' lower surface and 

 rachis covered with linear, reddish scales ; pinnse opposite, -|-1 in. 

 long, deltoid or ovate, the lower distant; piimules in few pairs, 

 lower pinnatifid, with recurved margins. Sori forming an almost 

 continuous line. 



Synonym. — Cheilanthes distans, A. Broivn. 



Distribution. — Tasmania, Australia and New Caledonia. 



A local fern in New Zealand. In the North Island it occurs 

 chiefly in the volcanic districts, growing on basaltic rocks, for which. 

 it seems to have a preference. Thus it is abundant at Rangitoto,. 

 Titirangi and some other parts of the Auckland district, north to 

 Whangarei. In the South Island it has been recorded from several; 

 localities in the Canterbury district, ascending to 3,000 feet. It does 

 not apj)ear to be at all common, however. It is a very hardy species,, 

 thriving in dry, stony soil under a blazing sun. 



Genus XXV.— GYMNOGRAMME.t Besv. (PL III. fig. 9.) 



Rhizome short and tufted. Fronds pinnate or 2- or 3-pinnate ; 

 veins free or anastomosing. Sori linear or oblong, simple or forked,- 

 without any involucre, on the veins diverging from the midrib. 



Perennial. — Fronds usually 2-pinnatifid, 



covered underneath with scaly hairs 1. G. pozoi. 



Annual. — Fronds 2- or 3-pinnate, thinly- 

 membranous, glabrous 2. G. leptophylla. 



1. G. pozoi, Eunze ; vdr. rutsefolia, Br. (PL III. fig. 9ft.) 



Rhizome short and sto\it. Fronds tufted, 1-5 in. long, linear or 

 ovate-oblong, obtuse, membranous, densely covered below with soft,. 



* Gr. Notlios, spurious ; dilcena, a cloak ; from the imperfect involucre. 

 + Gr. Gymnos, naked ; gramma, a line ; from the naked linear sori. 



