DESCRIPTIONS OF N.Z. FERNS. 79 



There is a second form called " var. Lessoni," or sometimes " Lindsaya Lessoni," 

 Plate XIX., No. 3, as some consider it a distinft plant. It is smaller, stiffer in its 

 growth, and less divided ; being simply pinnate, or only bipinnate on the lower pinnae. 

 It is only known to occur in the North Island, and is scarce even there. It is found in 

 similar situations to the other. 



LINDSAYA VIRIDIS. (Lind-say-a vir-ri-dis.) 



PLATE XXI., No. 2. 



This is the most beautiful of the New Zealand Lindsayas, and is scarcer even than 

 L. Trichomanoides. It has a short ereft rhizome from which numerous fronds arise. 

 The stipes is short, reddish brown or black, polished, but with a few hairs or scales at 

 the base. Rachis and costae the same. Fronds sometimes eighteen inches long, 

 lanceolate, and bi or tripinnate. The pinnae are alternately arranged and slope 

 upwards. They vary in shape from lanceolate to wedge-shaped, in various fronds, and 

 are divided, sometimes twice, into broad wedge-shaped segments, cut down to the 

 costae. The texture is sub-coriaceous, and the colour light yellowish green. The sori 

 occupy the ends of the ultimate segments, which open into flattened trumpet-shaped 

 involucres, containing them. The edges of the involucres are often slightly-toothed. 

 This fern is peculiar to New Zealand, and is usually found on the faces of dripping 

 cliffs, but occasionally on boulders in the beds of streams, in both cases, of course, 

 growing among moss. It differs from most delicate ferns, in loving sunshine and 

 hating shade. If coarse ferns, such as Lomaria procera, or Polypodium pennigerum, 

 invade a cliff on which it grows, and overshadow it, it quickly dies out. Even 

 Adiantum affine will kill it, when the former attains any size. It has been found at 

 various places from North of Auckland to Reefton, near Westport, but seems to be 

 more plentiful in the country between the Tararua range and Mt. Egmont than 

 anywhere else, the neighbourhood of Wanganui being, as it were, its headquarters. It 

 is a very easy fern to cultivate, and will grow well in a greenhouse, provided it is 

 planted in light sandy soil, and the pot is kept standing in an inch or two of water, so 

 as to enable the roots to get as much moisture as they like. I have grown it thus for 

 many years ; but it may be noted that, under this treatment, the fronds are shorter 

 and broader than when hanging on the face of a cliff. 



TRIBE PTERIDI^. (Pter-id-e-«.) 

 Has oblong or linear marginal sori. Involucres of the same shape as the sori, and 

 formed of the more or less altered or reflexed margin of the frond, opening inwards. 



GENUS ADIANTUM. (A-de-an-tum.) 

 So called from the Greek word " adiantos " dry, because water will not lie on the 

 surfaces of ferns of this genus, on account either of oiliness or of slight hairiness. The 

 sori are marginal, varying from globose to linear, usually numerous and distinct, but 



