'94: I. — FiLicES. [Todea 



.grown in a shady spot, protected from wind. It is one of the most 

 beautiful species we have, and should be found in every fernery. In 

 collecting specimens for the herbarium, the fronds should be placed 

 between drying papers as soon as gathered, as they quickly shrivel 

 and become so curled up as to lose their beauty. This remark is 

 .even more applicable to the next species. 



3. T. SUperba,. Colemo. (Crape-fern.) 



Rhizome erect, woody, 12-18 in. high, crowned by the tufted 

 fronds. Stipes 2-3 in. long, naked ; rachises with dense tomentum. 

 Tronds erect, 2-4 ft. long, 5-10 in. broad in the middle, 3-pinnatifid ; 

 pinnae crowded, 3-5 in. long, liuear-lanceolate, the lower ones 

 becoming gradually shorter ; pinnules crowded, sessile, J--§ in. long, 

 linear-oblong, cut nearly to the rachis into linear simple or forked 

 segments, which are often densely crowded and crisped, so as to 

 completely hide the rachis. 



Synonym. — Leptopteris superba. Hook. 



Distribution. — Like the last, with which it is closely connected by^ 

 intermediates, this species is confined to New Zealand (ranging to 

 .the Auckland Islands in the S.), but is somewhat local in its 

 occurrence. It is found chiefly in the mountain districts of the ( 

 North Island, from Pirongia in the N. to Wellington in the S., 

 ■at elevations varying from 2,000 to 3,500 ft. In the South Island, 

 and particularly along the West Coast forest regions, it is much 

 more common, up to 3,000 ft. It is rare in Canterbury Province 

 and local in the eastern part of Otago, but in the large forest- 

 covered districts near Invercargill it is common at about sea-level. 

 The delicate and fragile nature of the fronds renders this fern 

 Tinsuitable for out-door cultivation, as the least breath of dry wind 

 shrivels it up ; it may grow, but it will not thrive unless in the 

 shelter and shade of a suitable house. When growing, this is one of 

 the most beautiful of the New Zealand species, but the thicker and 

 more crisped the fronds, the sorrier do they look in the herbarium. 



Genus XXVII.— SOHIZ^A,* Smith. (PI. III. fig. 11.) 



Rhizome short, creeping. Fronds erect, linear, simple or forked, 

 usually terminated by separate fertile segments arranged in a close 

 comb-like manner ; stipes erect, rigid. Capsules in 2 rows, sessile 

 on one side of the pinnules, ovoid or globular, 2-valved, opening 

 laterally, crowned by a complete ring. 



Fronds terete or subterete, not forked. 



Fronds 1-3 in. long; fertile segment ^ 



in. long ; spikes about 6 1. S. australis. 



* Gr. Schizo, 1 split, from the divided fronds. 



