DESCRIPTIONS OF N.Z. I<ERNS. 131 



lanceolate, pinnate. Pinnae usually sub-opposite, long, narrow, set almost at right 

 angles to rachis, and deeply cut into rather broad, oblong lobes, with entire edges. 

 These lobes get narrower as the sori develop, because the edges curl over. Texture 

 almost membranous ; colour bright yellowish green ; sori very small and rather far 

 apart, in rows near the margin ; involucres small, white, membranous, and kidney- 

 shaped. The plant is also called " Nephrodium squamulosum," " Lastrea thelypteris," 

 and " Lastrea palustris." It can be easily cultivated if taken up in a mass of the 

 sphagnum among which it grows, and this is placed in a pot kept standing in water, 

 and frequently syringed. A zinc pot, with holes 2in or 3in. from the bottom, so as to 

 retain water to that level, is the best. 

 The following are bi or tripinnate 



NEPHRODIUM DECOMPOSITUM. (Nef-ro-de-um de-com-pos-it-um.) 



PLATE v., No. 7. 



This fern occurs also in Norfolk Island, Australia, Tasmania, and the Chatham 

 Islands. It seems to grow from end to end of New Zealand, and though abundant 

 where it occurs, is at the same time local. I have never seen it more than 1 000ft, 

 above the sea, though I have met with it often below that level, both on flat ground 

 and hill-sides. It grows very freely under cultivation, and produces many seedlings. 

 It likes rich soil, but does not send roots to any depth. 



It has rather thin creeping rhizomes, spreading over large patches of ground, and 

 producing numerous fronds, sometimes three feet high. The stipes is long, rather 

 slender but stiff, yellow or brown, downy above and scaly at base. Rachis also downy. 

 Fronds broadly rhomboidal, tri-pinnate. Pinnules stalked or narrowly sessile, oval or 

 lanceolate, and cut into shallow, pointed lobes. Sori numerous, nearer margin than 

 costa. Involucres white membranous and kidney-shaped. Colour yellowish green : 

 texture herbaceous, sometimes downy underneath. Also called " N. Pentangularum" 

 (a most appropriate name), " Aspidium decompositum," "A. microsorum," "A. 

 Shepherdi," " A. acuminatum," and " Lastrea decomposita." 



NEPHRODIUM GLABELLUM. (Nef-ro-de-um gla-bel-lum.) 



PLATE VI., No. 3. 

 Somewhat resembles the last, and was for a long time classed merely as a variety 

 of it. It occurs in Australia, Fiji, and Tahiti as well as in New Zealand. It is found 

 in the bush throughout the Colony, being far more common than N. decompositum ; 

 but like it, not ascending to high levels, though I have seen it certainly up to 1500 feet 

 elevation, and I think higher still. It is very easily cultivated, and produces hosts of 

 seedlings. It likes rich mould and a fair amount of shelter. Its main difference from 

 N. decompositum is that it has a stout ereft rhizome, bearing a crown of erect fronds 

 sometimes fifteen to eighteen inches high. Stipes variable but generally long, erect, 



