138 DESCRIPTIONS OF N.Z. FERNS. 



SUB-GENUS EUPOLYPODIUM (Yu-pol-ly-po-de-um) 

 Has the veins all free. It includes the following groups : 



GRAMMITIS GROUP (Gram-mi-tis), 

 Which has simple fronds with linear sori, includes 



POLYPODIUM AUSTRALE. (Pol-ly-po-de-um Aus-tra-le.) 



PLATE XXII., No. I. 



There are either two distinct plants, or two distinft forms of one plant thus 

 called, and stated in the Synopsis to occur in Australia, New Caledonia, Tristan 

 d'Acunha, and the southern portion of South America and adjacent islands, as well as 

 in New Zealand. The following synonyms are also given, viz : — " Grammitis 

 Australis," G. Billardieri," " G. ciliata," " G. Rigida," " G humilis," and " Polypodium 

 diminutum." The Synopsis says, " the fern has a creeping rhizome, forming a dense 

 mass." Mr. Thompson says, " It has a ' rhizome short, creeping, scaly, forming a 

 dense tuft :' " H. E. S. L., " rhizomes short, creeping, scaly ; fronds densely tufted :" 

 while Dr. Hooker merely says it has the " fronds densely crowded." This last is the 

 only one that fits the plant with which I have been familiar for many years, in the high 

 country inland of Wanganui, and which has an ereft rhizome, some times rising one or 

 two inches above ground, and surmounted by a small dense tuft of erect fronds. 

 These have no distinct stipes, but the fronds widen out at once from the articulated 

 junftion with the rhizome. They are simple, and generally merely long lanceolate, 

 with entire or very slightly indented edges, but some widen gradually, and have a 

 rounded end (both forms are shown in the Plate), fronds of both forms often occurring 

 on the same plant. A midrib extends from end to end ; and the sori form a succession 

 of short lines on each side of it, and placed obliquely to it. Texture smooth and sub- 

 membranous ; colour yellowish green. Inland of Waitotara, however, there is a plant 

 similar in its general appearance, but slightly hairy, which is no doubt the variety 

 called by Dr. Hooker " var. ciliata." This plant has slender, creeping, woolly rhizomes, 

 from which tufts arise at intervals of an inch or two, and so overspread a small patch 

 of ground, or surface of a log. Mr. Thompson describes the plant as growing " on 

 tree trunks, rocks, etc. ; but I have only seen either kind which I have described on the 

 faces of banks, or rotten logs. Neither kind is easy to cultivate. The only chance is 

 to lift a good lump of the earth, or rotten wood, with the plant. 



Another plant has been found in Canterbury, by Mr. J. B. Armstrong, who named 

 it "Grammitis pumila' (Plate XV., No. i). It has an ordinary slender, creeping 

 rhizome ; and the fronds are smaller than in the other plants, and have only one sorus, 

 and that at the end of the midrib. I believe it occurs on rocks, but I have not seen 

 it growing. 



