68 DESCRIPTIONS OF N.Z. FERNS. 



pierce the bark itself. The late Mr. Potts, of Christchurch, however, stated that he 

 had found it on Totara and New Zealand Cedar. From its peculiar colours, it is apt 

 to escape notice, and to be mistaken at a little distance for a lichen. Its slender stipes 

 varies greatly in length, and is usually of a brown colour slightly sprinkled with lighter 

 brown hairs. It has also a thick patch of scaly hairs at its base. The frond varies 

 greatly in length, breadth, and cutting ; being bi tri or quadri-pinnatifid in different 

 specimens. It is covered, rachis and all, with dense stellate tomentum, both above 

 and below. The colour of the upper surface varies from silvery to greenish grey and 

 dull yellow, while the under one is reddish brown. Texture coriaceous and harsh, and 

 dried fronds brittle. In the Synopsis it is said to be closely allied to a South 

 American fern " Hym. sericeum," but no other seems to resemble it at all. It has been 

 found on Ruapehu, Mt. Egmont, and the Ruahine range, in the North Island, and on 

 the mountains of Nelson and the West Coast, as well as at Banks' Peninsula and the 

 high hills near Dunedin, in the Middle Island, so that it may be looked for at high 

 levels throughout the Colony. I do not know of any one having attempted to grow 

 it, but if a branch on which it occurred were placed in a damp fernery or case, the fern 

 would probably thrive, for though it seems usually to grow only on dry, dead wood, 

 yet this is in situations where it is frequently enveloped in clouds or dense mists, the 

 moisture of which is no doubt absorbed by its velvety surfaces. I have lately received 

 two plants from Dunedin which seem doing well. This fern is peculiar to New Zealand. 



GEKUS TRICHOMAKES. (Tri-kom-an-ees.) 

 " BRISTLE FERNS." 

 This genus has the sori marginal, and always at the end of a vein, and more or 

 less sunk in the frond. Involucres urn-shaped or trumpet-shaped, and of similar 

 texture to the frond itself. Mouth of involucres often winged or slightly two-lipped. 

 Receptacle thread-like and elongated ; often protruding a long way beyond the 

 involucres. This accounts for the name, which means abounding in hair, as the sori 

 are usually numerous, and the long hairs projecting from them are very conspicuous 

 on the under-side of the fronds. The receptacle usually only bears capsules at its 

 base within the involucre. The capsules are sessile, depressed, and surrounded by an 

 entire broad ring, nearly transverse, and bursting vertically. 



TRICHOMANES RENIFORME. (Tri-kom-an-ees ren-if-or-me.) 



THE " KIDNEY FERN." 

 PLATE II., No. 3. 



This is a very favourite fern with horticulturists, its dark yet semi-transparent 

 green colour, and distinct veining, making it very attraftlve. It has long hard 

 creeping rhizomes, about one twentieth of an inch thick, and often covers a space of 



