98 DESCRIPTIONS OF N.Z. FERNS. 



in the Synopsis filicum whicli suits it. As will be seen, by reference to the plate, it 

 bears a certain amount of resemblance to Pteris incisa, and, but for its having fully 

 developed sori, it might be supposed to be a young Alpine form of that fern. The 

 fructification, however, proves the frond to be from an adult plant. It may prove to 

 be a dwarf form of Pt. incisa, stunted through growing at a very high level, but should 

 be sought for by any colleftor visiting the Otairi Gorge. Should it prove to be new to 

 science, I would propose to call it " Pteris alpina." 



GENUS LOMARIA. Lo-ma-re-a. 

 Has sori linear and continuous, parallel with the midrib, and occupying all, or 

 nearly all, the space between it and the margin. Involucre membranous, formed of 

 revolute edge of frond. Fronds dimorphous (that is having the barren and fertile 

 fronds different) usually once pinnate or pinnatifid, rarely simple or bi-pinnate. Veins 

 free. In the northern part of the Colony, the Maoris call the large plants of this class 

 by the general name " Uruuru-whenua." 



SUB-GENUS EULOMARIA. 

 Has the base of the frond not suddenly dilated, glandular. Ring of capsules 

 vertical. The following have their fronds simple, pinnatifid, or very occasionally 

 pinnate below, with bases of pinnae dilated. Pinnae few. 



LOMARIA PATERSONI. (Lo-ma-re-a Pat-ter-son-i.) 

 PLATE XI., Nos. 3, 3a, and 3b. 

 Has its rhizome short, stout, creeping or sub-ereft, and scaly ; sending out more 

 slender lateral ones, which produce fresh crowns with stout rhizomes. Stipes short, 

 stout, usually naked in small simple fronds, but widening out into wings or auricles, 

 or both, in larger ones ; dark brown or black, and often with scales at the base. Rachis 

 dark -coloured, shading into the hue of the frond. The fronds are of two classes. 

 Small barren fronds are generally simple, and either broadly oval or lanceolate, but 

 sometimes have an auricle or two at their bases. Larger ones, which are sometimes 

 as much as three feet long, are deeply pinnatifid, and vary in shape from lanceolate 

 to oblong acuminate. They have a broad web along the centre, from which the lateral 

 segments or lobes spring. These are entire, broad below, and either tapering or oblong- 

 acuminate : the colour of the whole being of a very dark shining green above, and 

 rather lighter below ; and the texture harshly coriaceous, and so brittle as to make the 

 fronds difficult to press, the wavy edges breaking. Veins forked, free, and very distinft. 

 The fertile fronds vary similarly in shape, but are usually longer than the barren ones. 

 The central web becomes very narrow or obsolete, and the pinnae which are not more 

 than a quarter of an inch broad, are very decurrent below, and covered by the sori, 



