aimhmia.] CLVI. FILIOES. 1939 



5. &. dichotoma (divisions in pairs^, Hook. Spec. Filic. i. 12 ; Benth. Fl, 

 Aiistr. vii. 608. Fronds dicliotomoua. Pinnules undivided, linear or linear- 

 lanceolate as in G. flabellata, but only on the last branches of the stipes above 

 the last fork, mostly about lin. long, rather rigid, glaucous underneath, dilated 

 and often shortly confluent at the base, the lowest one on the outer side of the 

 rhaohis usually longer and more or less pinnatifid. Transverse veinlets proceeding 

 from the midrib branching at the base, one branch bearing near the bass a soras 

 of 8 to 12 spore-cases. — Hook, and Bak. Syn. Filic. 15 ; Bedd. Ferns .•^. Ind. 

 t. 74 ; Polypodium, dichotomum, Thunb. ; Mertensia dichotoma, Willd. ; Schkuhr, 

 Filio. t. 148; Oleichenia Hermanni, R. Br. Prod. 161 ; F. v. M. Fragm. v. lU ; 

 Bail. Litho. Ferns Ql. 17. 



Hab : Shoalwatei' Bay, R. Brown ; Daintree River, Fitzalan ; Eookingham Bay, Dallachy ; 

 Brisbane Biver, and Islands of Moreton Bay. 



On the RuBsel Eiver this species is of a more slender growth and attains the height of 20 

 or 30tt. 



Dispersed over the tropical and subtropical regions of the New and the Old World. R. 

 Brown in transferring it from Polypodium to Oleichenia rejected Thunberg's specific name as 

 being characteristic of the whole genus and therefore no longer appropriate for a single species. 

 Willdenow nevertheless retained Thunberg's name, but placed the plant in Mertensia, now 

 generally united with Oleichenia. Hooker first adopted Thunberg's specific name under 

 Gleichenia, and has been followed by most others. The genera in ferns have been thrown into such 

 confusion and uncertainty that pteridologists acknowledge a right of priority in specific names 

 whatever may have been the genus under which they may have been first published. — Benth. 



11. TODEA, Willd. 

 (After Henry Julius Tode.) 



Trunk or rhizome erect. Fronds compound. Spore-cases globular, without 

 any or only a very obscure transverse ring, opening to the base in 2 valves, 

 clustered in sori on the under surface of the segments. 



A genus of few species, dispersed over South Africa, the Malayan Peninsula, the South 

 Pacific Islands and New Zealand. 

 Pinnules of a firm consistence, entire or serrulate. Sori at length covering 



the base of the lower pinnules 1. T. barbara. 



Pinnules of a membranous half pellucid consistence, serrate. Sori of few small 



spore-cases close to the midrib . . . . ... 2. T. Fraseri 



1. T. barbara (of Barbary), T. Moore; Hook, and Bak. Syn. Filic. 427; 

 Be)Uh. Fl. Austr. vii. 699. Swamp Fern Tree. Trunk erect, attaining sometimes 

 5ft. Fronds varying from under 2ft. to above 8ft. long, glabrous, twice pinnate. 

 Primary pinnae numerous, from 3 or 4in. to 1ft. long. Pinnules numerous, of a 

 firm consistence, narrow-lanceolate, f to 2in. long, entire or more frequently 

 .serrate, the upper ones decurrent and confluent at the base. Sori on the oblique 

 simple or forked veinlets, usually covering the greater part of the under surface 

 of the lower pinnules of the lower pinnse, the rest of the frond barren. Spore- 

 cases rather large. — Osmunda barbara, Thunb. ; R. Br. Prod. 168 ; Todea africana, 

 Willd. ; Hook. f. Fl. Tasm. ii. 153, t. 168 ; F. v. M. Fragm. v. 114 ; Bail.~Litho. 

 Ferns Ql. 19. 



Hab.: Rockingham Bay, DaHacfty ; Bowen, Woolls ; Moreton Bay, W. Hill; deep gullies of 

 the Blackall Ranges. 



Also in South Africa and New Zealand. 



According to Hooker this fern was first named Acrostichuni barbara by Liunaus because of 

 its African origin, but states that it is not a native of Barbary. 



2. T. (Leptopteris) Fraseri (after C. Fraser), Hook, et Grec. Ic. Filic. 

 t. 101 , Benth. Hi. Austr. vii. 700. Trunk erect, 6in. to 3ft. high and 'selJom 

 over 2 or 2^in. in diameter, more or less bearing the bases of the old fronds ; the 

 apex covered by somewhat glossy, short, obtuse scales ; the crown of few fronds, 



