1 48 DESCRIPTIONS OF N.Z. FERNS. 



TODEA BARBARA (To-de-a bar-bar-a), 



PLATE XXVI., No. 1, 



Which is found also in Cape Colony, Natal, Australia, and Tasmania, and occasionally 

 grows eight feet high. Rhizome, ereft, stout, fibrous, sometimes forming a caudex 

 four or five feet high. Stipes moderately long, brown and smooth. Rachis also 

 brown and smooth. Frond lanceolate, bi-pinnate. Pinnae numerous, long, narrow, 

 acute, and pointing slightly upwards. Pinnules numerous, sessile, long, narrow, oblong, 

 slightly indented or serrated in the margins, bright glossy green and coriaceous. Sori 

 slightly oval, placed close together in one line on each side of the midrib of the 

 pinnule, and set slightly obliquely to it. They are confined to a few of the lowest 

 pinnules on the lower pinnae of the frond, being in this respeft the very opposite of 

 the " Osmunda." 



This fern is also called "Todea Africana," "T. rivularis," and "Osmunda barbara." 

 It is only found in the very North of the Colony, but is easily grown in a greenhouse 

 or case, and was stated by the late Mr. T. H. Potts to have been grown, for some 

 years, in an open fernery, as far South as Christchurch. It is a very handsome fern; 

 and from its large size, and bright shining green colour, always at once attrafts the 

 notice of strangers. 



SUB-GENUS LEPTOPTERIS (Lep-top-ter-is) 

 Has a filmy texture hke Hymenophyllum. The New Zealand plants are the following: 



TODEA HYMENOPHYLLOIDES. (To-de-a hi-men-o-fil-lo-id-ees.) 



PLATE IV., Ko. 3. 



This beautiful fern is confined to New Zealand, where it occurs In sheltered damp 

 forests all over the Colony, up certainly to 2000 feet elevation. It has a stout, erefl 

 rhizome, sometimes rising into a rather conical caudex or rootstock three or four feet 

 high, crowned by a handsome tuft of fronds. Stipes variable In length, being longest 

 In young plants, and shortest in old ones ; brown, or brownish green, generally glossy, 

 but occasionally slightly furry. Rachis smooth, and narrowly winged towards the top, 

 Fronds bi-plnnate, and varying in form according to the age of the plant. At first 

 they are somewhat broadly triangular, but as the plant grows older they become oblong. 

 Later still, the lower pinnae become shortened and deflexed, so that the frond Is ovate- 

 lanceolate. The pinnae are numerous, stalked, linear-lanceolate, and so close together 

 that their segments overlap. Pinnules also numerous, crowded, shortly-stalked, and cut 

 almost to their mid-rib into very narrow linear lobes. These generally lie flat, but in 

 old plants they often turn upwards very considerably. Texture membranous : colour 

 dark shining green, which is very apt to turn almost black In drying. Occ;asionally 

 plants are found which have the texture very much thickened, though still retaining its 

 transparency. The fronds of these are sure to turn black in drying. The sori are so 

 irregular that the capsules seem thickly scattered over all the middle portion of the 



