Adiantum.] CLVI. FIIjICES. I957 



V. 119 ; Sieb. Fl. Mixt. n. 244 ; Bail. Litho. Ferns Ql. 59 ; A. assimile, Swartz ; 

 Hook. Spec. Filic. ii. 37 ; R. Br. Prod. 155 ; A. tn'gonum, Labill. PI. Nov. Holl 

 ii. 99, t. 248. 



Hab.: Common in most leoalities. 



Of this variable and widely spread species, there appear to be two rather distinct farms, 

 one having a brown stipes and the other a black stipes ; the latter is also of a more erect growth! 



3. A. formosum (handsome), R, Br. Prod. 155 ; Benth. FL Austr. vii. 724. 

 Rhizome creeping, scaly. Fronds 1 to 3ft. high, broadly spreading, 2 to 4 times 

 pinnate, the stipes often scabrous with numerous pinnse, the primary and 

 secondary ones always simply pinnate at the end, the main rhachis usually 

 flexuose slender and black. Pinnules membranous or scarcely coriaceous, shortly 

 petiolate, obliquely oblong obovate or rhomboidal, usually 8 to 4 lines rarely 

 only 2 lines long, or larger when barren, the entire sides very unequal, the fruit- 

 ing margin crenate- toothed. Sori on the teeth or between them. Indusium 

 transversely oblong or somewhat reniform. — Hook. Spec. Filic. ii, 51, t. 8tj, Syn. 

 Filic. 119 ; F. v. M. Fragm. v. 120; Bail. Litho. Ferns QI. 60. 



Hab.: Port Deniaon, Fitzalan ; Moreton Bay, Leichhhrdt and others ; Ipswich, Nernst. A 

 common scrub species. 

 Also in New Zealand. 



4. A. afiine (allied to another), Willd.; Hook, and Bak. Syn. Fil. 117 ; Benth. 

 Fl. Austr. vii. 724. Near A. formosum, but much less divided, with larger 

 pinnules more equal in size. Rhizome creeping. Fronds 1ft. high or more, 

 bipinnate or tripinnate only in the lower part. Primary pinna not numerous, 



3 to 6in. long, pinnules almost sessile, very obliquely ovate or oblong-rhomboidal, 



4 to 8 lines broad, the outer margins dentate. Sori marginal, scarcely indented. 

 Indusium broadly reniform. — F. v. M. Fragm. v. 119 ; Bail. Litho. Ferns Ql. 

 61 ; A. Cunninghamii, Hook. Spec. Filic. ii. 52, t. 86. 



Hab.: Maroochie and other localities along the North Coast Eailway. 

 Also in New Zealand. 



V&i. intermedium. Fronds and pinnules of vl. aj/lnc, but the indusia transversely oblong as 

 in A. formosum. 

 Hab.: Rockingham Bay, Dallachy. 



5. A. diaphanum (nearly transparent), Blume ; Hook. Spec. Filic. ii. 10, t. 

 80, Syn. F'ilic. 117 ; Benth. Fl. Austr. vii. 7^5. A much smaller and more 

 delicate plant than A. affine. Rhizome tufted. Fronds 6in. to 1ft. high includ- 

 ing the slender stipes, with 2 to 5. primary pinnas 3 to 6in. long, the lower ones 

 sometimes with 1 or 2 secondary ones at the base. Pinnules numerous, very 

 shortly petiolate, obliquely ovate-rhomboidal with very unequal bases, thinly 

 membranous, 3 to 6 lines broad, the outer margin dentate. Sori in the sinus of 

 the teeth. Indusium deeply reniform. — Bail. Litho. Ferns Ql. 62 ; A. affine, 

 Hook. Spec. Filic. ii. 82, not of Willd. 



Hab.: In dense damp shady scrubs throughout Queensland. 



Also in the Malayan Archipelago, South China, the South Pacific Islands and New Zealand. 



6. A. hispidulum (minutely hispid), Swartz; Hook. Spec. Filic. ii. 31, Syn. 

 Filic. 126 ; Benth. Fl. Austr. vii. 725. Rhizome tufted or rarely creeping. 

 Fronds when perfect once or twice forked at the base, each branch ending in a 

 ling pinna or pinnately divided at the base or higher up into secondary pinnae. 

 Pi mules numerous, very shortly petiolate, obliquely ovate-rhomboid, 3 to 8 lines 

 long or broad, rather rigid, prominently veined, the under surface as well as the 

 rhachis more or less hispid. Sori usually almost contiguous though not confluent. 

 Indusia much recurved, orbicular slightly reniform. — ^Bedd. Ferns S. Ind. t. 3 ; 

 P. V. M. Fragm. v. 120; Bail. Litho. Ferns Ql. 63. 



Hab.: Common in all scrubs. 



■Extends over tropical Asia and Africa, the Pacific Islands and New Zealand- 



Of this species there are.two^f orms, 



Pabt VI. S 



