102 DESCRIPTIONS OF N.Z. FERNS. 



with pointed ends, like that of L. discolor, and narrowing very gradually downwards, 

 pinnatipartite. The pinnae of the barren frond are numerous, alternate, longer and 

 narrower than those of L. discolor, widened at their base, and bluntly serrated towards 

 their ends. They are also slightly falcate and slope more upwards. Texture coria- 

 ceous ; colour bright green on both sides : veins well defined. Sometimes there are 

 no pinnae, and the shape of the frond Is entire and lanceolate, like that of small L. 

 Patersoni. The pinnae of the fertile frond are as numerous as those of the barren 

 frond, though the frond itself is smaller. They are long and extremely narrow, like 

 those of L. lanceolata, the sori covering all but the costae. As Herr Reischek has sent 

 home his specimens, I could not borrow them to show them on a plate, and mv own 

 Australian plant is too young to produce fertile fronds ; but the fern may be at once 

 identified by its barren fronds resembling those of Lomaria discolor, but with narrower 

 and more numerous pinnae, and both surfaces green ; and its fertile ones being like 

 those of L. lanceolata with far more numerous and longer pinnae. 



A third class is called "the Spicant Group," and is distinguished by having 

 smaller, narrower, more lanceolate fronds. The following plants belong to it : 



LOMARIA LANCEOLATA. (Lo-ma-ri-a Lan-ce-o-la-ta.) 



PLATE XI., Nos. 2 and 2a. 



This is probably the most abundant of all the N.Z. Lomarias, except L. procera, 

 as it occurs from end to end of the colony, as well as in the Southern Polynesian 

 islands, Australia, Tasmania, and the Chatham, Campbell, and Auckland islands. A 

 closely allied form also occurs in Chili ; and I can see little to distinguish it from the 

 European L. spicant. The rhizome is stout and erect, sometimes rising into a short 

 caudex. The fronds form a crown, the barren ones being outside, and the fertile ones 

 standing more ereft within them. The stipes is short, erect, dark coloured, with some 

 darker scales at the base, but smooth above. Rachis smooth. Sterile fronds lance- 

 olate, narrowing gradually below, and cut right down the rachis into falcate pinnae, 

 which slope slightly upwards, and have their edges sometimes entire, and sometimes 

 slightly indented or toothed. Texture almost membranous, showing the venation very 

 clearly ; colour varying from bright to dark green. Pinnae of fertile fronds about 

 one-sixteenth of an inch wide. Sori linear, covering the pinnae, or leaving only the 

 costae visible. 



This fern may be found on almost any shady bank, and often occurs in almost 

 dry situations under overhanging ledges. I have found it growing in crevices of rock, 

 particularly of shell-rock ; and in such cases have noticed that the young fronds are 

 often yellow, red, or light purple, with the veins showing in a darker tint. The fertile 

 fronds also assume the same colours, and the whole plant looks extremely lovely. 

 Such plants, however, when transplanted, produce fronds of the ordinary colours ; 



