84 DESCRIPTIONS OF N.Z. FERNS. 



same shape as sori, membranous in texture, formed of reflexed margin. All the New 

 Zealand plants of this class belong to the sub-genus Euhypolepis, which has the 

 rhizome creeping ; the frond ample and tri or quadri-pinnatifid. The distinction 

 between this class and Adiantum is that it has its sori on the back of the frond, and 

 covered by the reflexed involucre ; while in Adiantum the sorus is on the back of the 

 involucre itself. Thus till closely examined the fruftifications of the two classes 

 appear to be alike, though in some Adianta they are on the ends of lobes or on 

 straight edges of pinnules. 



HYPOLEPIS TENUIFOLIA. (Hi-po-lep-is ten-u-if-o-le-a.) 



PLATES XXIV., Ko. 3, and XXVII., No. 4. 



Has rather stout, scaly, dark brown, widely-creeping rhizomes, producing scattered 

 fronds. Stipes about half as long as frond, ereft, stout, naked or slightly tomentose. 

 Rachis and costae the same, but usually more tomentose. Fronds varying from 

 triangular to oblong, and from one to three feet long, tri or quadri-pinnate. 

 Pinnae ovate or lanceolate, pinnules the same, cut into narrow oblong toothed lobes. 

 Texture herbaceous or sub-coriaceous : colour generally dark green. Sori in the 

 indentations between the lobes ; with margin of frond doubled over to form a 

 spurious involucre. This distinguishes the class from Polypodium which has the sori 

 naked and placed nearer to the costae, but as a matter of fact the two classes run into 

 each other to such an extent that Sir W. Hooker said he could see no good specific 

 distinction between two New Zealand Hypolepides and Polypodium punftatum, 

 particularly in its variety " rugulosum." Of course the typical plants differ, but there 

 are frequent intermediate forms which are difficult to classify ; indeed, a better 

 classification is wanted. The plant which I have just described is classed by different 

 authorities as a Cheilanthes and a Lonchitis, which illustrates this difficulty. 



It occurs throughout the Colony among scrub and light bush, usually on the 

 margin of bush, and often springs up in abandoned cultivations. It Is also found in 

 Australia, Tasmania, Java, Polynesia and Chatham Islands. Itjs easily grown, but is 

 more suited to a rockery than to pot culture, as its rhizomes soon overrun the edge of 

 a pot. Leaf-mould suits it best. It is also called " H. Dicksonioides," " Cheilanthes 

 ambigua," " C. arborescens," " C. pellucida," and " Lonchitis tenuifolia." There is a 

 form, found in the Canterbury district, which has been called " Dicksonia dubia," and 

 " Dennstsedtia dubia." It differs from the ordinary one in having what in the latter 

 are the uhimate lobes again forked or indented in the edges. The sori, which are 

 minute, are placed on small lobes in the bottom of the sinus, and not in the sinus itself. 

 The stipes is long and the frond more compaft than usual, though it is of the 

 triangular type. 



