DESCRIPTIONS OF N.Z. FERNS. 71 



TRICHOMANES VENOSUM. (Tri-kom-an-ees ve-no-sum.) 



PLATE XIV., No. 4. 



This little fern usually forms dense masses on the caudices of tree-ferns, and root- 

 stocks of semi-arborescent ones ; but occasionally grows on rotten logs, among moss. 

 Its delicate, light, translucent green colour renders it very attractive. The rhizome is 

 slender, wiry, and creeping. The stipes thread-like, rather long, shining, and dark 

 coloured. Rachis the same, but lighter towards the top. The frond is long, generally 

 narrow, and bi-pinnate. The pinnae, particularly the upper ones, are divided into lobes, 

 which are much elongated, and have their edges slightly indented. The sori are 

 sub-axillary ; involucres urn-shaped ; and the receptacles protrude, like hairs of greater 

 or less length. The texture is ver}'- thin, the surfaces naked, and the colour usually 

 yellowish green. A short length of a fern-tree stem, well covered with this fern, is a 

 very pretty object, and will last for many years standing upright under a bell glass, if 

 it be only watered occasionally ; the best mode of watering being to uncover it, and 

 put it out of doors during rain. It is found throughout the Colony, as well as in 

 Australia, Tasmania, and the Chatham Islands. 



TRICHOMANES VENUSTULUM. (Tri-kom-an-ees ve-nus-tu-lum.) 



PLATE XV., No. 1. 

 This little fern is generally regarded as merely a form of the last ; but is 

 considered by Mr. Colenso, and others, to be entitled to specific distinftion. It grows 

 in the same manner, and often on the same tree-fern : in fact, their rhizomes often inter- 

 mix, and this gave rise to the idea that the mass was all one plant, with fronds of 

 different shapes. T. venustulum has its pinnae short, oval, and distinctly and 

 regularly lobed ; and is altogether a smaller plant than the other. It is also of a 

 lighter colour, and even thinner texture. It can be similarly cultivated ; and probably 

 is found elsewhere than in New Zealand, though it has only been differentiated here 

 and that doubtfully. 



TRICHOMANES COLENSOI. (Tri-kom-an-ees Co-len-so-i.) 



PLATE XXII., No. 3. 



This is one of the most beautiful of the New Zealand ferns, but is by no means 

 common, and is confined to the Colony. Its rhizome is thin and wiry, with a few 

 short hairs, and creeps considerably, so that the plant forms considerable patches 

 where it occurs. The stipes is generally about half as long as the frond, hair-like 

 black, glossy and naked. The fronds are dark green, oblong or lanceolate, and bi or 

 tri-pinnatifid, with stalked pinnae. The pinnules are long lanceolate, but sometimes 

 more or less deeply lobed, and occasionally even fan-shaped in large specimens. 

 They are also stalked. Surfaces naked. The sori are usually sub-axillary and stalked 



