DESCRIPTIONS OF N.Z. FERNS. 151 



off by small insefts as fast as they appeared, and so the ferns died. There is no 

 beauty in the plant, which looks more like a rush than a fern, but it is worth growing as 

 a curiosity. It is also called " S. Valdiviana," and confounded with the next as " S. 

 propinqua," and " S. bifida." The small form is also called " S. palmata," and 



" S. pectinata." 



SCHIZGEA BIFIDA. (Skite-zoe-a bi-f^d-a.) 



PLATE XII., No. 3. 



This fern is also found in Tasmania and Australia. In New Zealand it is met 

 with occasionally from the Bay of Islands to Cook's Straits, but is not reported from 

 the Middle Island. It used to be pretty plentiful among manuka scrub on the pumice 

 soil of the Wanganui Valley, but is disappearing as the scrub is cleared. I have also 

 found it on poor clay land, among stunted fern and manuka, at the North 

 Shore, Auckland. Like the last, it is probably less rare than is generally supposed, as 

 its rush-like appearance, and its growing in company with rushes, are very likely to 

 cause it to be overlooked. It is difficult to cultivate. It also occurs in Australia. 



Like the preceding one, it grows in clusters of fronds generally about one foot 

 high, which proceed singly, yet pretty close together, from slender, scaly, shortly- 

 creeping rhizomes. It, again, has no distinft stipes, but a branching erect stem. 

 The lower part of this stem is of a light brown or straw colour, from one sixteenth to 

 one eighth of an inch broad, flattened, but with projecting edges ; in fact, with a 

 a broad flat channel down the front. At about three or four inches from the ground 

 this stem divides into two precisely like itself, and these frequently divide again. 

 Each branch has a brush of capsule spikes, at its top, much broader than that of 

 " S. fistulosa," but not longer. The whole plant is of a rather dull, Hght green, stiff, 

 and very rough to the touch. At Wanganui, I have often found barren fronds dividing 

 in the same way, but spreading out into a fan, and all curved over towards one side. 

 As, however, I saw no such fronds on the Auckland plants, and find no mention of 

 separate barren fronds in any of the authorities on ferns, I incline to think it is a local 

 peculiarity, and only mention it to draw the attention of other collectors to the question. 



SCHIZCEA DICHOTOMA. (Skite-zoea di-kot-om-a.) 



PLATE XXIV., No. 2. 



This fern belongs to the " Sub-genus Lophidium," which has the fertile segments 

 pinnate, the fronds flattened, and capsules biserial. It is found in Cuba, Venezuela, 

 Peru, Polynesia, Australia, the Philippines, the Malaccas, Mascaren Islands, Neil- 

 gherries, and larger forms of it in Polynesia and America. In New Zealand it only 

 occurs in the Kauri forests, in the northern part of the North Island, and 

 neighbouring islands. A plant said to have been gathered at Banks' Peninsula was 

 probably " S. bifida." It is also said to occur in a bush at Rotorua. I do not know 

 that any one has tried to cultivate this fern, which is only a few inches high. 



