1960 CLVI. FILICES. [Pteris. 



37 ; F. V. M. Fragm. v. 124 ; Bail. Litho. Ferns Ql. 68 ; P. pedata, E. Br. Prod. 

 155, not of Linn.; P. Broumii, Desv. in Mem. Soe. Linn. Par. vi. 294 ; Pellcea 

 geranimfolia, Fee ; Hook. Ic. PI. t. 915, Spec. Filio. ii. 132, Syn. Filio. 146. 



Hab.: Broadsound, R. Brown ; Eoekingham Bay, Dallachy; Port Denison, Fitzalan ; Kock- 

 hanipton, O'Shanesy, Bowman ; Bowen, WoolU; Brisbane Kiver, Bailey. 



Widely dispersed over the tropical and subtropical regions of tlie New and the Old World. 



2. P. paradoxa (paradoxical). Baker ; BentJi. Fl. Austr. vii. 729. Rhizome 

 creeping. Fronds 6in. to IJft. high, simply pinnate, the rhachis dark and 

 shining, glabrous or very rarely with a few scales. Pinnae very few on young 

 plants, often above 20 on luxuriant fronds, usually petiolate, lanceolate or ovate- 

 lanceolate, H to 2^in. long and usually broader than in P. falcata, coriaceous 

 with dichotomous free veins oblique on the midrib concealed in the substance of 

 the frond. On young plants the fronds often simple bearing a solitary ovate- 

 cordate pinna. Sori usually continuous all round very nearly to the petiole 

 Indusium not so thin as in most species, soon concealed under the sori. — Bail. 

 Litho. Ferns Ql. 70 ; Adiantum parado.rum, R. Br. Prod. 155 ; Sieb. Fl. Mixt. n. 

 269 ; Pellaa paradoxa, Hook. Spec. Filio. ii. 135, t. Ill, Syn. Filic. 152 ; 

 Platyloma Broumii, 3. Sm. ; Bail. Queensl. Ferns, 36. 



Hab.: Brisbane River, Moreton Bay, A. Gunningkam, F. v. Mueller and others ; Port Denison, 

 Fitzalan. 



3. P. falcata (sickle-shaped), R. Br. Prod. 154 ; Benth. FL. Austr. vii. 729. 

 Ear fern. Rhizome creeping. Fronds 6in. to l^iL long, simply pinnate, the 

 rhachis densely scaly-hirsute. Pinnae numerous, sessile or neary so, lanceolate, 

 often falcate, 1 to 2in. long, acute or rather obtuse, coriaceous with the concealed 

 venation of P. paradoxa, the lower ones rarely auriculate at the base on the upper 

 side. Sori continuous all round except the truncate base. — Hook. f. Fl. Tasm, 

 ii. 189; Sieb. Syn. Filic. n. 109, Fl. Mixt. n, 253; F. v. m. Fragm. v. 123, 

 partly ; Bail. Litho. Ferns Ql. 69 ; Pellma falcata, F6e ; Hook. Spec. Filic. ii; 

 135, t. Ill, Syn. Filic. 151; P. seticaulis. Hook. Ic. PI. t. 207; Platyloma 

 falcatum, J. Sm. ; Bedd. Ferns S. Ind. t. 22. 



Hab,; Brisbane River, Moreton Bay, A. Cunningham: Port Deaison, Fitzalan; Eookhampton 

 and neighbouring districts, Bowman, O'Shanesy and others. 



Also in East India, the Malayan Archipelago and New Zealand. 



Var. nana. Rhizome very short. Fronds tufted. The pinnm crowded almost overlapping, 

 J to fin. long. -Bail. Litho. Ferns, Ql. 69. 



Hab.: Very common in southern scrubs. 



4. P. rotundifolia (round-leaved), Forst. ; Hook..Ic. PI. t. 422 ; Benth. Fl. 

 Austr. vii. 780. Habit of P. falcata but usually smaller or more slender. Pinnse 

 orbicular or very broadly oblong, obtuse, often slightly cordate at the base, 

 almost sessile, usually about ^in. long or when luxuriant fin. Venation and 

 scaly hirsute rhachis entirely as in P. falcata.— BaH. Litho. Ferns Ql. 71 ; Pelltea 

 rotundifolia. Hook. Spec. Filic. ii. 186, Syn. Filio. 151 ; Platyloma rotundifoUum., 

 J. Sm. ; Bail. Queensl. Ferns, 36. 



Hab.: Mount Dryander, Fitzalan, also Mount Lindsay, Hill. 



Also in New Zealand and in Norfolk Island. The figure in Hooker's Filic. Exot. t. 48, 

 represents a luxuriant large form probably from a cultivated specimen. —Benth. 



5. P. longifolia (long-leaved), Linn. ; Book. Spec. Filic. ii. 157, Syn. bilic. 

 l-i8 ; Benth. Fl. Austr. vii. 780. Rhizome short and thick. Fronds 1 to 2ft. 

 high, simply pinnate, the stipes scaly-hairy at the base only. Pinnse u'sually 

 numerous, sessile or nearly so, linear or linear-lanceolate, 3 to 6in. long in full- 

 grown specimens, the simple or forked veins transverse from the midrib and 



