22 



CLASSIFICATION OF FERNS. 



Style of lithography which, though new and of a high class charafter, Is less expensive ; 

 and to mention the colours in the descriptions. 



Plate I., showing the fruftifications of the different genera of N.Z. ferns, as 

 they appear when magnified, will be found a sure guide ; it being borne in mind that 

 the capsules, in different ferns, vary in colour from straw to nearly black ; though 

 those of any one species are of similar hue. Six Sub-orders are represented in New 

 Zealand, viz., " Gleicheniacese," " Polypodiaceae," " Osmundaceae, " Schizceaceae," 

 " Marattiaceae," and " Ophioglossacese," the termination " aceae," indicating a certain 

 tribe or genus and its allies. Thus Gleicheniaceae includes not only " Eugleichenia " 

 (good or true Gleichenia), but the sub genus "Mertensia" also; as well as some 

 others, of which we have no examples in the colony ; and the plate shows both. The 

 Polypodiaceae again include not only the true Polypodies, but ten other tribes, some 

 of which contain several genera and sub-genera, all of which are shown : and the 

 others in like fashion, so as to make the key complete, there being nearly fifty genera 

 and sub-genera in all in the colony. In each case, the plate shows the whole sorus in 

 its place on a fern, and such details, in the shape of sections of the sorus, manner of 

 its opening, capsules and manner in which they burst, &c., as may make the printed 

 description perfectly clear. 



The following table will explain how the several Sub-orders, Tribes, Genera and 

 Sub-genera are divided as regards our New Zealand ferns : — 



Sub-Order. 

 Gleicheniacese ... 



Polypodiaceae 



Tribe. 

 Gleicheniae 



Cyathcse 



Dicksoniae 



Hymenophyllese 



Davallise 



Lindsayse 



Pteridise 



Blechneae 



Asplenise 



Aspidiae 



Genus. 

 Gleichenia 



r Cyathea 



A Hemitelia 



1^ Alsophila 



Dicksonia 



Hymenophyllum 



Loxsoma 



Trichomanes 



Davallia 



Cystopteris 



Lindsaya 



Adiantum 



Hypolepis 



Cheilanthes 



Pelloea 



Pteris 



Lomaria 



Doodia 



Asplenium . 



Darea 



Athyrium 



Diplazium 



Polystichum 



Nephrodium 



^ Nephrolepis 



, Sub-Genus. 



< Eugleichenia 



Mertensia 



Balantium 



Eupteris 



Psesia 



Litobrochia 



Eunephrodium 

 Lastrea 



