DESCRIPTIONS OF N.Z. FERNS. 37 



opposite directions ; and these, after producing about two pairs of pinnules, fork 

 horizontally, about at right angles to each other. These secondary pinnae have an 

 oblong or slightly tapering general form, and produce a number of long pinnules, 

 branching out right and left at right angles to them, with a similar long terminal 

 pinnule. These pinnules are cut into numerous small rounded lobes, arranged 

 alternately, and lying flat, or only slightly hollow below. The undersurface is often 

 nearly white, and the sori grow in small groups of not more than four in the middle of 

 the lobes, the edges of which curl over slightly as the sori develope. The ends of the 

 secondary pinnae and pinnules droop downwards so that the whole frond bears the 

 same position in reference to the stipes, that the head of an umbrella bears to its stick. 

 I mention this particularly, because it looks otherwise in the plate, owing to that 

 being drawn from a pressed specimen. There is usually a bud in the fork at the 

 top of the stipes, and this, later on, produces an upper stipes and crown. There are 

 similar buds in the forks from which the secondary pinnae spring, and these afterwards 

 produce a short continuation of the main pinna, and another pair of secondary pinnae, 

 and sometimes a third length is similarly produced beyond these, and a third crown 

 above the second one, giving the whole frond a rather complex appearance. The fern 

 is most plentiful in the north of the Colony, where it seems to grow everywhere among 

 the manuka scrub and is said to spring up directly bush is cleared, but it occurs more 

 sparingly throughout the Colony, down to Otago. If taken up in the late autumn or 

 winter season, it is easily cultivated by arranging the rhizomes on about an inch 

 and a half of leaf mould, pegging them down and then covering them with another 

 inch or so of mould. The peculiar growth of the fern always attrafts the notice of 

 strangers ; and it only needs a moderate amount of shade and proteftion from wind. 

 It is however very difficult to move in summer. It grows also in Australia, Tasmania, 

 New Caledonia and Malacca. The northern Maoris call it " Matua rarauhe." Mr. 

 Colenso's " Gleichenia patens " is a more proliferous form, found near the Wairakei 

 hot springs and at Wanganui. It is often three to four feet high, and sometimes eight 

 or even ten feet and has very few sori and capsules. It is more membranous in its 

 texture than the ordinary plant and dies down with frost. 



GLEICHENIA DICARPA. (Ghke-ne-a di-car-pa.) 



" SWAMP FERN." " RARAUHE TARANAKI " OF THE MAORIS. 



PLATE III. No. 1. 



This fern grows among the sphagnum moss in swamps, and in its general growth 



is similar to the G. circinata but taller. The secondary pinnae, however, fork again ; and 



the growths from all the buds assume the character of fresh fronds, with stipes and 



all complete, and as the pinnules of the whole interlock for mutual support, a very 



