DESCRIPTIONS OF N.Z. FERNS. i37 



larger in proportion to the size of the frond. This plant approximates to " Hypolepis 

 distans," from which it only differs in its thicker rhizome, velvety sticky stipes and 

 rachis, velvety texture, and position of the sori ; in fact, I have seen intermediate forms 

 which were difficult to class. Like many other ferns with creeping rhizomes, both 

 forms are difficult to cultivate from pieces of the rhizome, but young plants grow 

 readily enough under conditions similar to their natural ones. 



SUB-GENUS GONIOPTERIS (Go-ne-op-ter-is) 

 Is distinguished by having the venation of Eunephrodium, that is, veins branching with 

 lower veinlets of contiguous groups joining. 



POLYPODIUM FENNIGERUM. (Pol-ly-po-de-um pen-nid-ger-um.) 



PLATES XXV., No. 3, and XXVI., No. 3. 



This fern is found only in New Zealand and the Chatham Islands, but is closely 

 allied to a South American one. It is very plentiful throughout the Colony, except 

 perhaps in Stewart's Island. It is mostly found in the lower parts of gullies, or along 

 the margins of swamps ; but may often be seen growing under a hedge in company 

 with Lomaria procera with which it is confounded by the Maoris under the name of 

 " Korokio." It is also called " Goniopteris pennigera," " G. Forsteri," and " Aspidium 

 pennigerum." 



It has a hard, erect rhizome, often rising as a caudex two to three feet above the 

 ground (and I think occasionally far higher), and crowned with a few large fronds, 

 sometimes six feet long. The stipes is short, rather thick but soft, brownish or 

 yellowish green and shining, smooth except a very few scales at the base. Rachis 

 also green, tender, and shining. Frond long lanceolate and pinnate. Pinnae, long, 

 narrow, very shortly stalked, and cut into rounded or bluntly sub-falcate lobes ; 

 auricled on upper side at base, the auricles overlapping the rachis, and making the 

 pinnae appear sessile, lower ones deflexed, upper ones generally curving upwards. 

 Texture membranous, glossy ; colour varying from dark to rather bright green. Sori 

 numerous, small, round, nearer costa than margin. Veinlets of lowest lobes anasto- 

 mosing, the rest free. This is a very easy fern to cultivate, but must be kept 

 sheltered, as the foliage is so delicate that wind will break the fronds all to pieces. 

 When growing on the margins of swamps, however, it becomes harsher, and strong 

 enough to resist the wind somewhat. 



A crested variety, called " var.^Hamiltoni," after its discoverer, was found several 

 years ago, near Napier, and quite lately a deltoid form, and a very remarkably crested 

 one, have been gathered by Mr. Ellis, near Stratford, in the Taranaki District. 



THE EREMOBRYOID SERIES 

 Is distinguished by having the stems articulated (that is jointed) at point of junftion 

 with the rhizome, and the sori generally, but not always, terminal on veins. 



18 



