Doodia.] OLVI. FILICES. 1967 



1. D. aspera (rough), B.. Br. Prod. 151 ; Benth. Fl. Austr. vii. 741. 

 Fronds erect, rigid, mostly about 1ft. or less but varying from 6)to nearlv 18in., 

 ■the pinnules as well as the rhachis exceedingly scabrous. Pinnules or segments 

 numerous, all attached by their broad or dilated base, rigidly serrulate, those in 

 the centre of the frond lanceolate falcate, 1 to Sin. long, the upper on6s shorter 

 and more conflaent gradually reduced to the lanceolate point of the frond, the 

 lower segments more distinct, gradually shorter, the lowest reduced to small 

 wing-like appendages to the rhachis. Sori ovate or almost rounded, usually in 

 one row on each side at a little distance from- the midrib, but in the larger 

 segments often numerous in at least two rows on each side. — Book. Spec. Filic. 

 iii. 71, Syn. Filic. 189, Exot. Fl. t. 8 ; Sieb. Fl. Mixt. n. 249 ; F. v. M. Fragm! 

 V. 130 ; Bail. Litho. Ql. Ferns, 93 ; Woodioardia aspera, Metten.; Bail. Ql. 

 Ferns, 27. 



Hab.: Brisbane and Burnett Eivers, F. v. Mueller; Mount Elliott, Fitzalan. A very commoQ 

 plant in southern scrubs. 



Var. heteroph,ylla,'&Ml. Syn. Ql. Fl. 704; Litho. Ferns, Ql. 94. Stipites slender, tufted- 

 Frond 1 to IJft. long, J to 2in. broad, slightly scabrous, sometimes forked; rhachis with a 

 narrow wing. Segments very narrow, ending in an elongated segment at the apex of from 5 to 

 6in. in length, the abbreviated ones at the base often only forming slight lobes to the wing of 

 rhachis. Sori close, often confluent, the wings to rhachis often also fertile, sterile fronds rigidly 

 serrulate. 



Hab.: Maroochie, on rocks. 



2. I>. caudata (tailed), R. Br. Prod. 151 ; Benth. FL Austr. vii. 741. A 

 weak slender plant with the fronds often decumbent, the central ones ascending 

 from 6in. to 1ft., slightly scabrous. Lower pinnae distinct, short, ovate or ovate- 

 lanceolate, often broadly biauriculate, attached by the midrib only and mostly 

 barren ; intermediate ones lanceolate falcate with a broad base, mostly fertile and 

 attached by the midrib only, the upper ones more adnate, the uppermost short 

 and confluent into a lanceolate or linear apex to the frond, but sometimes the 

 whole frond consisting of short broad barren pinnte, or the narrow fertile ones 

 continued nearly to the base, and in some (Bail. Litho. Ferns Ql. 96) specimens 

 the narrow almost entire apex occupying nearly the whole frond. Sori oblong, 

 usually in a single row on each side of the midrib, and sometimes almost 

 confluent.— Hook. Spec. Filic. iii. 75, Syn. Filic. 190, Exot. Fl. t. 25 ; Hook. ♦. 

 Fl. Tasm. ii. 147 ; F. v. M. Fragm. v. 129 ; D. rupestris, Kaulf. in Sieb. Syn. 

 Filic. n. 114, Fl. Mixt. n. 248 ; Woodwardia caudata, Gav. ; Bail. Queensl. 

 Ferns, 27. 



Hab.: York Peninsula, N. Taylor; Rockingham Bay, Dallachy ; Daintree River, i'itzalan; 

 Eockhampton, Moreton Bay and other southern localities. 



Also in New Zealand and the Soulh Pacific Islands. 



Var. media. Fronds often erect and from 1 to IJft. long. Longer segments in the middle of 

 the frond 1 to 2in. long.— Bail. Litho. Ferns, Ql. 95 ; D. media, B. Br. Prod. 151 ; Hook. Spec. 

 Filic. iii. 74, Syn. Filic. 190; Woodwardia media, F6e ; Bail. Queensl. Ferns, 27. 



Hab.: Common in both northern and southern localities. 



28. ASPLENIUM, Linn, 

 {A, privative, splm, the spleen ; medicinal qualities.) 



Rhizome creeping, or short and thick, or rising to a shortly arborescent trunk. 

 Sori linear or rarely oblong, on veins proceeding from the midrib or the base of 

 the pinnules or on their branches. Imlusium hnear or oblong, attached along 

 one side to the vein and opening along the other side. 



A large genus generally dispersed over the tropical and temperate regions of the globe. 



Sect. I. Euasplenium. — Sori linear, diverging from the midrib or from the petiole 

 towards the margin the indasium opening from the inner or upper edge outwards. 



Fronds entire. Veins and sori parallel and transverse. 

 Fronds coriaceous, 1 to 6ft. long, 3 to Sin. broad. Veins closely 

 parallel, connected within the margin 1. ^. nidus. 



