DESCRIPTIONS OF N.Z. FERNS. 141 



POLYPODIUM CUNNINGHAMII. (Pol-ly-po-de-um Cun-ning-ham-e-i.) 



PLATE XV., Ko. 5. 



This fern, which is also called " Polypodiuni attenuatum," and " Dictymia 

 lanceolata," is found in the New Hebrides as well as in New Zealand. In the latter, 

 however, it seems pretty nearly confined to the North Island, where it is fairly common, 

 while South of Cook's Strait it has only been reported from Nelson and Banks' 

 Peninsula. It grows generally on tree-trunks in huge mats ; but occasionally on rocks 

 and still more rarely on damp ground. It has soft, tender, woolly, creeping rhizomes, 

 from which tufts of a few fronds each arise. The stipes, such as it is, is smooth and 

 wiry, and a wing begins from its very base and gradually widens into the long, narrow, 

 simple, lanceolate frond. The edges are entire, and veins anastomosing and distinft. 

 Sori very large, round, or slightly oval, forming a line rather nearer to the rachis than 

 to the edge. Texture almost membranous : colour bright, rather glossy green. It is 

 easy to cultivate in rotten bark and leaf-mould. 



POLYPODIUM PUSTULATUM. (Pol-ly-po-de-um Pus-tu-la-tum.) 



PLATE XVII., No. '2. 



This fern, which is also called " Polypodium scandens," " P. membranifolium," 

 " Phymatodes pustulata," and " Pleopeltis pustulata," grows throughout Australia, 

 Norfolk Island, and the Chatham Islands, as well as in New Zealand. It abounds in 

 the North Island, and northern end of the Middle one, up to 2000 or 3000 feet, but 

 becomes scarcer farther South. The fronds emit a sweet scent, somewhat like new 

 hay, when dry, and hence were used by the Maoris to scent oil for the anointing of 

 their hair. It creeps on the ground, but ascends trees to a considerable height, 

 clinging on by its rootlets. It is easily cultivated, in bush soil ; but to show it properly, 

 it needs something to climb. 



The rhizomes are long, branching, rather thin, tough, and thickly hairy. Stipes 

 smooth, short, or almost wanting, as its wing merges into the web of the frond itself. 

 Rachis also smooth. Fronds sometimes very long, narrow, linear, lanceolate; and at 

 others widening out irregularly into lobes, of greater or less length, set at about right 

 angles to the rachis. Texture thin, almost membranous, colour very dark green. 

 Sori round or slightly oval, in one row rather more than half-way from the mid-rib to 

 the margin. 



POLYPODIUM BILLARDIERI. (Pol-ly-po-de-um Bil-lar-de-er-i.) 



PLATE II., Nos. 4, 4a, 4b. 



It is also called "Polypodium scandens," "P. diversifolium," "Phymatodes 

 Billardieri," and " Niphobolus glaber." It occurs also in Australia, Tasmania, and the 

 Chatham, Auckland, and Campbell Islands, as well as in New Zealand, and a very 

 closely allied plant grows in New Caledonia. It grows indiscriminately on the ground, 

 on tree-trunks, logs, and rocks, both in dense bush and in the open, and is very easily 



