Lygodium] i. — filices. 97 



Distribution. — Confined to New Zealand, where it occurs (in the 

 North Island only) from N. Cape to the latitude of E. Cape, 

 ascending at the Thames, and on Pirongia, to about 2,500 ft. It is 

 only found in the bush or on its outskirts. 



The twining stems have long been used by the Maories for all 

 purposes for which rope is now used ; they are very tough and 

 enduring. 



This fern grows well under cultivation, but requires the shelter 

 of a greenhouse in most parts of the South Island. It should have a 

 good firm mould to grow in, and lattice or trellis-work to grow upon, 

 which it will soon cover with its elegant fronds. 



Genus XXIX.— MARATTIA,* Smith. (PI. lY. fig. 2.) 



Rhizome large, thick and tuberous. Stipes very stout, jointed to 

 the rhizome, and furnished at the base with a pair of large flap-like 

 auricles or stipules. Fronds large, 2- or 3-pinnate. Capsules com- 

 pletely united in 2 rows in oblong, boat-shaped sori {synangia), which 

 are placed in a continuous row near the margins and terminating the, 

 veins, and which open by slits down their inner faces, exposing a 

 number of transverse openings leading to the cells containing the 

 spores. In the only N.Z. species the sorus is furnished with an 

 obscure fimbriated inferior involucre. 



1. M. fraxinea, Smith. /V"" - ^'-^^'^^ 



Stipes 1-2 ft. long, 1-1| in. thick, smooth, deciduously scaly and 

 swollen in the lower part. Fronds 6-12 ft. long, deltoid, coriaceous, 

 dark-green, 2-piimate, rarely 3-pinnate ; pinnse 1-2 ft. long ; pinnules 

 3-8 in. long, |^- 1|^ in. broad, lanceolate or linear-oblong, acuminate, 

 serrate or entire, rounded or cuneate at the base ; veins parallel, 

 simple or forked. Sori ^-yg- in. long, submarginal, with 6-12 

 capsules on each side. 



Synonym. — M. salicina. Smith; <fec., &c. 



Distribution. — Spread over the tropical regions of the Old World, 

 and extending south beyond the tropics in Africa, Australia and 

 New Zealand. In this colony it only occurs in the forests of the 

 North Island, ranging from Taranaki on the W. — and which is also 

 probably its southern limit — to the North Cape. It is only found in 

 a few widely-separated localities, and is fast becoming very rare. 



The rhizome, or rootstock, is a most peculiar feature of this fine 

 fern. According to Mr. Buchanan, " it is composed of an irregular 

 agglomerated mass of thick fleshy scales, each scale formed by the 

 enlargement of a stipe base — ^the stipe separating by an articulation 

 above the swelling." It contains a large amount of starch, and was 

 formerly an important article of food — under the name of Para — 



* In honour of J. F. Maratti, an Italian writer on Ferns. 



