6o DESCRIPTIONS OF N.Z. FERNS. 



divided again, particularly towards the base. The fronds are lanceolate, and the 

 pinnae broadly so, and pointed upwards. The whole foliage is broad, whence the 

 name. The ultimate lobes are long, even in proportion to their width. The sori are 

 seldom numerous, and vary much in size. They are enclosed in involucres placed on 

 the ends of the lobes, but rarely on the terminal ones. Sometimes they are small and 

 oval, inserted in the ends of the lobes, and at others are large and round, wider than 

 the lobes, and project beyond them. This fern is easy to grow, under similar treat- 

 ment to that which I have recommended for Hymenophyllum demissum ; but is best 

 placed on the shady side of a case. There seem to be no very noticeable varieties of 

 this fern, beyond the difference in the length of the fronds. The foliage, however, is 

 wider and more membranous in some localities than in others, particularly in the 

 north of the Colony. It occurs in the Chatham and Auckland Islands, as well as in 

 New Zealand, and from Java southwards. An allied form also occurs in South 

 America. 



HYMENOPHYLLUM PULCHERRIMUM. (Hi-men-o-fil-lum pul-ker-rim-um). 



PLATE XX., Ko. 6. 



This, as its name implies, is regarded as the most beautiful of our Hymenophylla. 

 The rhizome is short, stout, erect or sub-erect, and armed with stiff bristles ; and the 

 fronds are fairly numerous, springing from its sides, and first growing upwards, and 

 then curving gracefully over. When growing, as it usually does, among moss on a log 

 or tree-trunk, the fronds hang down, and sometimes attain a length of from eighteen 

 inches to two feet. The stipes is rather short, and broadly winged to the very base. 

 The frond is sometimes lanceolate and sometimes narrowly triangular, and tri or 

 quadri-pinnatifid. The rachis and costae are also all winged, but only narrowly so. 

 The pinnae and secondary pinnae point upwards towards the apex of the frond, and the 

 whole foliage is small and delicate. The sori are fairly numerous, small, enclosed in 

 small very obviously two-valved involucres, with entire edges. These are placed at 

 the ends of the lobes, into which they • are usually partly sunk. In some cases, 

 however, the greater part of the lobe is wanting, and the sorus, which, in this case, is 

 larger than usual, appears at first sight to be axillary. Texture, membranous ; 

 colour, dark green. In the North Island this fern is only found at high levels (say, 

 1500ft. and upwards to 3000ft.) ; but in the Middle Island, particularly on the West 

 Coast, it is more plentiful, and occurs at lower levels. It is only found in high bush 

 or very damp places; still it is not difficult to cultivate in a glazed case if planted in leaf- 

 mould and rotten wood. Beyond the slight difFerences in the form and length of 

 fronds, and the foliage of different plants being a little finer or coarser, there appear 

 to be no varieties. It is confined to New Zealand and the immediately adjacent 

 islands, so far as at present known. 



