DESCRIPTIONS OF N.Z. FERNS. 8i 



numerous, placed in indentations in the upper and outer edges, and kidney-shaped. 

 Involucres same shape as sori, formed of reflexed margin, and of a light green colour. 

 The fern occasionally grows eighteen inches high, and is found throughout the Colony, 

 but only at moderately low levels, and seldom far inland. It also occurs at the 

 Chatham Islands, the variety " Chathamicum " found there being very coarse. It is 

 very easily cultivated in light soil and leaf-mould. It was called by Dr. Hooker 

 " Adiantum Cunninghamii." There are various forms of it, differing chiefly in size 

 and number of branches, but presenting no specific distinftions. The most noticeable 

 is a small harsh-textured form found in dry places near Napier and elsewhere. 



ADIANTUM FULVUM. (A-de-an-tum ful-vum.) 



PLATE VI., No. 4. 



Though this fern is separately classed, I doubt whether it is really distinft from 

 the previous one, as I have repeatedly found intermediate forms, particularly large 

 ones, which could scarcely be assigned to either species, rather than the other. In its 

 typical form, this fern has a rougher rhizome, and more hairy base to its stipes than 

 the other. The stipes and rachis throughout are rough to the touch, and often red 

 rather than black. The frond is more branched, being sometimes partially tri-pinnate, 

 and the pinnules are longer, narrower, and more pointed. This last peculiarity, 

 however, disappears in large fronds, and their pinnules are often nearly round, as are 

 those of similar fronds of A. affine. The sori are similar to those of A. affine, but 

 larger, particularly in large fronds; and the involucres are often nearly white. It also 

 grows eighteen inches high occasionally. 



It is found in Australia and the islands northward of New Zealand as far as Fiji, 

 and is most plentiful in the northern part of the North Island, though it occurs in the 

 Middle one as far south as Banks' Peninsula. Like the preceding one, it seems 

 confined to the low country near the sea coast, and I have noticed that it grows in 

 drier places than the other, generally on ridges, or steep hill-faces. In one case, near 

 my own house, a large patch of it has so completely changed its character that I do 

 not think anyone but myself would take it for anything but A. affine, and I can only be 

 sure it is A. fulvum through having gathered its fronds for the last thirty years. It 

 was perfectly typical, red stipes and all, when I first knew it, but the change has 

 occurred gradually, as the bush got opened up by the stock, and the plants have 

 deteriorated. It is easily cultivated, in the same manner as Adiantum affine. 



ADIANTUM FORMOSUM. (A-de-an-tum for-mo-sum.) 



" PLUMED MAIDENHAIR." 

 PLATE XIV., No. 6. 

 This is by far the largest of New Zealand Maidenhairs, being four feet, and 

 sometimes five feet high, with more than twenty branches, and over looo pinnules. 



