HO DESCRIPTIONS OF N.Z. FERNS. 



colour darkish green. Also called " Arthropteris tenella," and " Polypodium filipes." 

 This fern is found in New Caledonia, and Australia, as well as in New Zealand. 

 It is pretty common in the North Island, in forests, but is only reported from Banks' 

 Peninsula in the Middle one, and not at all from Stewart's Island. It is very easily 

 cultivated, as any bit of the terrestrial rhizomes will grow, if pegged down among leaf- 

 mould and dead leaves. To see the plant properly, _ however, a young tree of some 

 kind should be planted with it, and the creeping rhizomes guided to it, and allowed to 

 climb. It thrives best in a moist atmosphere. 



SUB-GENUS CAMPYLONEURON (Cam-pil-o-nu-ron) 

 Has the primary veins distinct, extending from the midrib to the edge, and 

 connected by parallel straight or curved transverse veinlets. Areolae containing two 

 or more sori. The free veins all directed to the edge. It includes the Niphobolus 

 group, the ferns of which have their under surface matted with woolly or cottony 

 tomentum. To this belongs 



POLYPODIUM SERPENS (Pol-ly-po-de-um ser-pens) 



PLATE VI., No. 9, 



Which is found from Australia eastward to the Society Islands, as well as in New 

 Zealand and Chatham Islands. It is also called "Polypodium rupestre," "P 

 stellatum," " P. elaeagnifolium," " P. confluens," " Niphobolus rupestris," and " N. 

 confluens." It is very abundant throughout New Zealand, and is found on tree-trunks 

 both in forests and in the open ; on roots, on rocks, and sometimes on the ground. 

 It ascends to 3000 or 4000 feet, and cannot be mistaken for any other fern. It will 

 grow almost anywhere and anyhow. 



It has a rather stout, scaly, fleshy, reddish brown, widely-creeping rhizome, which 

 clings to the bark of trees and other obje6ls, and bears scattered fronds of two kinds. 

 The stipes of both is rather long in proportion to the frond, round, stiff, and fleshy. 

 The barren fronds are oval or almost round, very thick and fleshy, smooth bright 

 green above, and covered with thick white or reddish tomentum below. The hairs 

 composing this tomentum have stellate ends. Fertile fronds much longer and narrower, 

 varying from ob-ovate to lanceolate, and lanceolate with rounded apex. Colour 

 and texture like the barren fronds. Sori numerous, round, somewhat irregularly 

 arranged, and often confluent, so as to cover the under surface of the frond, particularly 

 towards the apex. 



SUB-GENUS PHYMATODES (Fi-mat-o-dees) 

 Has the areolae fine, copious, irregular; free veins spreading in all directions. 

 Sori various in position, but generally on back of united veinlets. Several New 

 Zealand ferns belong to it, viz .- 



