DESCRIPTIONS OF N.Z. FERNS. 113 



merely pinnatifid charafter of D. Aspera has entirely disappeared, and the fronds are 

 now quite pinnate. I mention this because the same may be the experience of others, 

 or they may find plants which thev may think to be new, because they differ somewhat 

 from the normal type. 



Doodia media has a short, stout, scaly, erect rhizome, sometimes rising several 

 inches above the surface of the ground, and after a time parting into separate branches, 

 each of which produces a crown, and will, if cut off from the parent stock, make a 

 fresh plant. Stipes short, stout, scaly at the bottom and sometimes throughout. 

 Rachis generally smooth, but sometimes scaly towards its lower end. Frond long, 

 narrow, and lanceolate, often widest in the middle, tapering very gradually below, and 

 acuminate towards the apex ; pinnate. Pinnae very numerous. The middle ones are 

 oblong, with rounded or obtusely-pointed ends, broad sessile bases, and serrated edges. 

 The lower ones are more and more shortened and more narrowly sessile, till the lowest 

 are round, and distinftly stalked. Occasionally the stalked pinnae extend above the 

 middle of the frond. The upper ones become more and more widely sessile on the 

 rachis, and it is only at the verv top of the frond that thev become pinnatifid. The 

 terminal one is of the same shape as the rest but somewhat narrower. The colour is 

 dark brownish-green (brown or rose in the young fronds) ; texture harshly coriaceous, 

 and main veins very distinctly marked. The sori are short, and form two lines on 

 each side of the costae of the pinns, and parallel to them, being situated on cross 

 veins connecting the main veins. Involucres membranous, and opening inwards but 

 soon hidden by the sori. 



There is a second form, distinguished as "D. connexa," which has longer, more 

 membranous, and sub-lanceolate pinnae, but as I and others have found the normal form 

 change into it, under cultivation, it is evidently not entitled to specific distinftion. A 

 third form, called by Mr. Colenso " D. squarrosa," has the pinnae so much narrowed as 

 to appear distinct and almost linear, with decurrent bases This narrowed appearance 

 however, arises, in a great measure, from the edges bending over, so as partially to 

 cover the sori. The terminal pinna is also very much prolonged, and the texture 

 unusually harsh. I have received specimens of it from Napier, from the Reverend 

 gentleman himself, and from Wellington from Professor Kirk. It is certainly a very 

 distinct variety, but I do not think it entitled to be regarded as a separate plant, as 

 the difference is no greater than occurs in what are always classed as mere varieties 

 of other ferns. All forms are easily cultivated, and do best in rather stiff soil with 

 leaf-mould. They do not require much shade. I have lately received a plant from 

 the hill-country between the Waitotara and Patea rivers. It ^vas found farther inland 

 than I ever knew D. media to occur before, and is of the " Connexa" type, havincr 

 grown in bush. 



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