1950 CLVI. FILICES. [Dicksonia. 



1. D. antarctica (antarctic), Labill. PI. Nov. Holl. ii. 100, t. 249; 

 Renth. Fl. Austr. vii. 712. Woolly Pern-tree. Trunk arborescent, attaining 30 

 to 50ft., covered with matted rootlets giving it sometimes a diameter of 4ft. 

 Fronds 6 to 12ft. long, twice or thrice pinnate, the stipes smooth or with 

 setaceous scales, the rhachis glabrous minutely scabrous or softly hairy when 

 young. Secondary pinnw 2 to Sin. long. Pinnules or segments distinct or the 

 upper ones confluent, nearly flat and acutely toothed when barren, thicker and 

 obtusely lobed when fertile. Sori solitary on each lobe. Indusium globular, about 

 i line diameter, 2-valved, the upper valve adnate to the lobe of the frond and undis- 

 tinguishable from it except near the base where there is on each side a narrow 

 free margin.— Hook. Spec. Filic. i. 66, Syn. Filic. 50 ; R. Br. Prod. 157 ; Hook, 

 f. Fl. Tasm. ii. 132 ; F. v. M. Fragm. v. 117, vi. 199 ; Bail. Litho. Ferns Ql. 40. 



Hab.: Recorded for Queensland by F. v. M. 

 Also in New Zealand. 



2. 1>. Voungiae (after Lady Young), C. Moore in Bak. Syn. Filic. 461 ; 

 Benth. Fl. Austr. vii. 713. Trunk 10 to 12ft. high, 3 to Sin. diameter, marked by 

 the bases of old fronds. Fronds somewhat coriaceous and glossy. Stipes 

 covered with glossy-brown hair ; rhachis ferruginous-pubescent or glabrous, not 

 scabrous. Secondary pinnae 2 to Sin. long. Pinnules 3 to 6 lines long when 

 fertile, deeply divided into round lobes. Indusium 1 line diameter, the upper 

 valve entirely adnate. — Bail. Litho. Ferns Ql. 41. 



Hab.: Bellenden-Ker Eange, W. Hill; Bunya Mountains, J, F. Bailey. 



3. S. davallioides (Davallia-like), R, Br. Prod. 158 ; Benth. Fl. Austr. vii. 

 713. Rhizome creeping. Fronds erect, 2 to 5ft. high, the rhachis straight or 

 flexuose, smooth and shining. Secondary pinna 3 to 4in. long. Pinnules 

 numerous, distinct, ^ to lin. long, membranous, pinnatifid, the lowest lobe on 

 the upper side longer than the others. Sori small, globular, almost marginal, 

 in the sinus or at the base of the upper side of the lobes of the pinnules. 

 Indusium cupular, about ^ line diameter, entire or scarcely lobed, adnate on the 

 upper side to the frond. — Hook. Spec. Filic. i. 71 ; Syn. Filic. 54 ; Bail. Litho. 

 Ferns Ql. 42 ; D. nitidula, Metten. Filic. Hort. Lips. 106, t. 28 ; Dennstadtia 

 davallioides, T. Moore ; Bail. Ql. Ferns, 54. 



Hab.: Near Brisbane and many other southern localities. 



17. DAVALLIA, Sm. 



(After Edmond Da vail). 



Rhizome creeping, often densely covered with soft scales or setsB. Fronds 

 compound, often large, or rarely in species not Australian undivided. Sori 

 globular or slightly elongated, terminating veins close under or at a little distance 

 from the margin. Indusium from under the sorus either with the margins adnate 

 to the frond and forming with it a complete cup enclosing the sorus, or attached 

 only by its broad base and either covering the sorus, or short and open under it. 



The genus is widely spread over the tropical and subtropical regions of the Old World 

 extending to the Mediterranean, with a few tropical American species. 



Fronds coriaceous. Indusium with adnate margins forming a complete cup. 



Pinnules oblong, obtusely lobed. Indusium narrow-oblong .... 1. D. solida. 

 Pinnules lanceolate, acutely lobed. Indusium ovate. 



Pinnules marked with raised strise ... ... . . . 2. D. eleaans 



Pinnules flat, the nerves slightly depressed . . . S. D pyxidata. 



Fronds coriaceous. Indusium attached only by its broad base. • rn 

 Fronds rarely above Sin. long above the stipes. Indusium orbicular, 



covering the sorus ! 4. D peiaUi 



Fronds large and compound. Indusium short and broad under the sorus 5, D 4ubia 



