Aspulium.] GLVI. FILICES. 1975 



1. A. COrdifolium (leaves cordate), Sivartz, Syn. Filic. 45 ; Benth. Fl. 

 Austr. vii. 751. Rhizome emitting wiry fibres bearing ovoid scaly tubers. 

 Frondg 1 to 2ft. long, weak, simply pinnate. Pinnaj very numerous 

 and regularly approximate, nearly sessile but articulate on the rhachis, oblong, 

 rounded and usually denticulate at the end, f to lin. long, obliquely cordate at 

 the base with the upper auricle much the largest, gradually smaller at the end of the 

 frond, and the lowest pinnse short broad and barren. Veins obliquely dive'rging , 

 from the midrib, forked or branched. Sori terminating each upper branch, 

 forming a row at some distance from the margin. Indusium orbicular, very 

 prominent, attached in a deep sinus or rarely peltate. — Bail. Litho. Ferns Ql. 122 ; 

 I^ephrolspis cordifolia, Presl ; Hook, and Bak. Syb. Filic. 300; Aspidium 

 tuberosuin, Bovy ; F. v. M. Fragm. v. 136; Nephrolepis tuberosa, Presl; Hook.. 

 Spec. Filic. iv. 151 ; Bedd. Ferns S. Ind. t. 92. 



Hab.: Rockingham Bay, Dallachy ; Brisbane River, Moreton Bay, W. Hill, F. v. Mueller. 

 Spread over the tropical regions of the New and the Old World. 



2. A. exaltatum (tall), Swartz, Syn. Filic. 45; Benth. Fl, Amti: vii. 754>, 

 Fronds weak, often above 2ft. long, simply pinnate, the rhachis glabrous or 

 loosely scaly-tomentose. Pinnae very numerous, nearly sessile but articulate on 

 the rhachis, lanceolate, mostly acuminate and crenate, obliquely truncate at the 

 base and sometimes auriculate on the upper side, the longer ones 3 to Sin. long, 

 with numerous fine forked veins obliquely diverging from the midrib, the lower 

 pinnaa usually shorter rounded at the end and barren. Sori terminating on& 

 branch of the veins, forming a regular row usually close to the margin. 

 Indusium orbicular, laterally attached in a deep sinus or sometimes peltate and 

 opening all round. — F. v. M. Fragm. v. l;-i6; Bail. Litho. Ferns Ql. 123;. 

 Nephrodium exaltatum, R. Br. Prod. 148 ; Nephrolepis exaltata, Schott ; Hook- 

 Spec. Filic. iv. 152, Syn. Filic. 801. 



Hab.: Port Bowen, R. Brown, A. Ounningham ; Cape York, Daemel ; York Peninsula, N. 

 Taylor; Endeavour River, A. Cunningham; Rockingham Bay, T. Hill, Dallachy; Daintree 

 Eiver and Port Denison, iftoaZam ; Gilbert River, Daintree; islands off the coast, M'Gillivray 

 Thozet and others. 



Widely spread over the tropical regions of the New and the Old World. 



Tar. longipinna. Larger pinnae 6in. long. J to jin. broad, with the row or sori at a oonsiderabl* 

 distance from the margin. — Bail. Litho. Ferns, Ql. 124. 



A large and common fern among the rocks of the tropical coast. 



3. A. ramosum (branching), Beauv. Fl. Ow. et Ben. ii. 53, t. 91 ; Benth. 

 Fl. Austr. vii. 754. Rhizome slender, scaly, creeping up the stems of trees to a 

 great length. Fronds weak, varying from 6in. to above 12in. long. Pinn£e 

 numerous, of very irregular length, some exceeding IJin. long, tapering from the 

 base to an accuminate point, others on the same frond not more than half that 

 length and obtuse, breadth about 4 lines, obliquely oblong, obtuse, crenate, very 

 oblique at the base, articulate on the rhachis, the lower side, narrowed the upper- 

 broadly truncate and often auriculate. Veins diverging from the midrib- 

 once or twice forked. Sori in a regular row between the midrib and the- 

 margin. Indusium orbicular, usually attached in a deep sinus but sometimes 

 peltate.— Bail. Litho. Ferns Ql. 125 ; Nephrolepis ramosa, T. Moore ; Hook, 

 and Bak. Syn. Filic. 801; Nephrodium obliteratum, R. Br. Prod. 148; Aspidium 

 oMiteratum, Spreng. Syst. iv. 99 ; F. v. M. E'ragm. v. 135 ; Nephrolepis 

 obliterata, Hook. Spec. Filic. iv. 154 ; Bedd. Ferns S. Ind. t. 251 ; Polypodium?- 

 Beckleri, Hook. Spec. Filic. iv. 224 ; N. repens, Brackenr.; Bail. Ql. Ferns, 

 50; N. altescandens, B&il. 1. c. 51, not of Baker. The above synonyms are all.' 

 forms of the species. 



Hab.: Northern scrubs. 



■Var. lineare, 3rd Suppl. Syn, Ql. Fl. 93. Rhizome pubescent, very slender, climbing like Ivy 

 up to sterna of trees and shrubs, often 10 or 12ft. Fronds crowded, linear in outline, 6 to 15in. 

 long and seldom exceeding lin. broad ; pinnse 80 to 40 on each side of the rhachis, not exceeding;, 



