DESCRIPTIONS OF N.Z. FERNS. 115 



frond, and the pinnae are far wider apart and usually alternate in the upper half. 

 They are lengthened and narrow (whence the name " caudata," tailed), and have 

 auricled bases. The lower ones are stalked, but the upper ones are sessile, and 

 decurrent on the lower side and the terminal one is lobed and elongated. The cross 

 veins, carrying the sori, are so close to the costae that the sori form merely a broad 

 dark-brown line along the centre of each pinna, with branches into the auricles. 

 Involucres membranous, and opening inwards, but scarcely visible even when the frond 

 is quite young. 



This fern is very easy to cultivate, requiring little shade or moisture, and produces 

 spores so abundantly that seedlings come up in large numbers in its vicinity; so that 

 the wonder is that it is not more widely distributed. It likes 'ight soil and leaf-mould. 



GENUS ASPLENIUM. (As-ple-ne-um.) 



Has sori dorsal or sub-marginal, linear or oblong. Involucres similar m shape, 

 straight or occasionally curved, single or double, fiat or swelling, bursting along outer 

 edge. 



Sub-genus Euasplenium has veins free, simple or branched, sori linear, or linear- 

 oblong, straight or discoidal. It is divided into several groups, of which the following 

 are represented in New Zealand, vis., The Trichomanes group, which has pinnate 

 fronds with a wiry chestnut-brown or black rachis. The only fern in the Colony 

 belonging to this group is 



ASPLENIUM TRICHOMANES. (As-ple-ne-um tri-kom-an-ees.) 



PLATE XXVIII., No. 8. 



This has a short, stout, ereft rhizome, sometimes rising an inch or two above the 

 ground, and carrying a crown of numerous fronds. The stipes is rather short, smooth, 

 and dark-brown. Rachis also dark-brown and shining. Fronds long, narrow, oblong, 

 or lanceolate, sub-ere£l and divided into numerous oblong or oval pinnae, which are 

 arranged in pairs, stalked, and slightly indented at the edges. The sori are arranged 

 in several lines, set obliquely to the costa, and on both sides of it. Involucres 

 membranous. Colour bright green ; texture sub-coriaceous. 



This little fern, whose fronds seldom exceed six or eight inches long, is found in 

 the Northern Hemisphere from the Azores and Great Britain, to Japan and North 

 America, and up to a height of from 6000 to 8000 feet, on the Himalaya Mountains. 

 Thence its range extends southwards to South Africa, Australia, Tasmania, New 

 Zealand, and the South American Andes to Peru. Large forms, sometimes eio-hteen 

 inches long, occur in Madeira and South America, and dwarf ones on the Andes. In 

 New Zealand, it was first found on the Nelson Mountains, and has since been met with 

 all along the Southern Alps, as well as on the Kaikouras and Banks' Peninsula, always 



