86 DESCRIPTIONS OF N.Z. FERNS. 



cultivated in rotten sawdust, pounded rotten wood or finely crushed peat; in fa6l, in 

 any rotten vegetable substance, through which its rhizomes and young fronds can push 

 their way readily. Its long delicate drooping and interlacing fronds make it very 

 suitable for cultivation in hanging baskets, as it likes Hght and does not need much 

 watering. 



GENUS CHEILANTHES. (Ki-lan-thees.) 

 From the Greek words, cheilos a lip, and anthos a flower, referring to the round 

 sub-marginal sori. This genus has its sori terminal or nearly so on the veins ; at first 

 .small, distinft, and sub-globose, but afterwards more or less confluent. Involucres 

 formed of altered and reflexed margin of the frond, sometimes in rounded and distinft 

 lengths, and sometimes more or less confluent, but never quite continuous. The two 

 plants generally recognised in New Zealand, both belong to the sub-genus 

 Eucheilanthes, which has its involucres more or less confluent, fronds not produced nor 

 scaly beneath, and segments large and flatter than in the other sub-genus Physapteris ; 

 but we have a third species not yet classed. 



CHEILANTHES TENUIFOLIA. (Ki-lan-thees ten-u-if-o-le-a.) 



PLATE XXI., Nos. 2 and 3. 

 Has an ereft rhizome covered with silky scales and sometimes much flattened on 

 the top. Stipites tufted and occasionally extremely numerous, varying greatly in length 

 as much as from one to four inches in fronds of equal size on the same plant, dark 

 reddish brown or purplish black, glossy but slightly hairy at base. Rachis the same 

 and sometimes narrowly winged. Fronds triangular, oblong or broadly lanceolate, 

 spreading or ere6f, tri-pinnatifid. Pinnae broadly triangular, alternate or sub-opposite, 

 and slightly overlapping. Professor Kirk says that they ascend at an acute angle with 

 the rachis, but in several of my plants which came from the same localities, Lyttelton 

 and Lake Whakatupu, as those from which he described the fern, they stand out at 

 right angles, and in some fronds the lower ones are even a little deflexed. Pinnules 

 tapering or oval, and cut down to the costae, or nearly so, into oval or oblong segments 

 which are sometimes slightly lobed. Terminal pinnules often very long, forming a 

 sort of tail to the pinna. Sori often confluent, and projefting beyond the margin of 

 the frond. Involucres more or less toothed or indented. Texture coriaceous ; colour 

 bright yellowish green. Dr. Hooker says it has a few silky scales on the stipes ; but 

 other authorities do not mention them. This fern is found all over India, in China, 

 Malaya, Polynesia, Australia, Tasmania, and South Tropical America ; but it is rare 

 in New Zealand, being reported only from Hawke's Bay, Wanganui, and Taumatamahoe, 

 in the North Island, and the Port Hills near Christchurch, Banks's Peninsula, and 

 Lakes Hawea and Whakatupu in the Middle one. It is a small plant, however, 

 seldom more than eight or nine inches high, and as it grows on very dry clay hills, or 



