1976 CLVI. FILICES. [Aspidium. 



S lines long in the centre of frond and much smaller towards each end, obliquely oblong, the 

 upper margin slightly crenulate, with a, short blunt auricle at the base, lower margin nearly 

 straight, bsise parallel with the rhaohis ; terminal pinna lanceolate or somewhat rhomboidal ; 

 Teins once forked ; sori on the end of the upper branch usually at a distance from the margin. 

 —Bail. Litho. Ferns Ql. 126a. 



Hab.: Tringilburra Creek, Bellenden Ker, and other tropical localities. 



Var. eumundi. Rhizome slender, more or less hairy, often very intricate, forming dense, 

 matted masses upon damp rocks, the fronds thus very numerous, and not unlike the moss 

 Gyathophora pleridioides, 1 to 2in. long, with the pinnsB not close, and only 1 or 2 lines long ; 

 these are never fou d bearing sori. From these moss-like masses proceed fihform stems, which 

 creep up the adjoining trees or shrubs, and bear fertile fronds, narrow-lanceolate in outline, 

 •often falcate, 3 to 6in. long, stipites very short or none ; the rhachis clothed with soft, white 

 hairs and distant brown scales. Pinnse oblong, the centre ones 3 to 6 lines long, from which 

 they diininish in size towards each end,- the apical ones being only about i line in diameter, and 

 the basal ones but little larger, all softly haity, the lower mttrjgin entire, ujpper crenulated, base 

 truncate, and parallel with the rhachis, with a more or less prominent auricle on the upper side ; 

 •oostular vein flexuose nearer the lower than the upper margin, veinlets often shortly forked. 

 Indusium large for the size of the frond ; orbicular reniform, persistent. —A. eumundi, Bail. 

 Bot. Bull, v ; Bail. Litho. Ferns Ql. 126b. 



Hab.: Condamine, C. H. Hartmann; Tallebudgera, J. F. Shirley; Eumundi, J. F. Bailey 

 and J. H. Simmondi. 



Spread oier tropical Africa and Asia and the Pacific Islands. 



4. A. unitum (united), Swartz. ; Syn. Fil. 47 ; Benth. Fl. Austr. vii. 755. 

 Rhizome stout, creeping. " Tchungooin," Bundaberg, Keys. Fronds 1 to 2ft. 

 long on a stipes often as long, simply pinnate, glabrous. Pinnae narrow- 

 lanceolate, 3 to 6in. long, sessile but not adnate or the lower ones shortly 

 petiolate, rather firm, regularly pinnatifid, the lobes usually reaching to about 

 the middle, broid, rather acute, often falcate. Veins pinnate to each lobe, the 

 branches or veinlets of adjoining lobes uniting in a vein leading to the sinus. 

 Sori at the end of the veinlets forming usually a close row along the margin 

 •of the lobes. Indusium orbicular-reniform or almost peltate, very small and 

 soon disappearing. — F. v. M. Fragm. v. 135 ; Bail. Litho. Ferns Ql. 127 ; 

 Nephrodiuin unitum, R. Br. Prod. 148. 



Hab.: Endeavour River, Ban is and Solander; Lizard Island, M'Gillivray; York PenioBula, 

 N. Taylor ; Rockingham Bay, Dallaehy ; Port Denison, Fitzalan ; Rockhampton, Thozet ; 

 Brisbane River, Moreton Bay, A. Cunningham, F. v. Mueller, 



Widely spread over tropioal'Africa and Asia. 



Var. propinquum. Bail. Syn. Ql. Fl. 711 ; Litho. Ferns Ql. 128. This is a pubescent form, 

 although closely reseiiibling the type will not like that be found in or near swamps. It is 

 mostly met with on rich forest land — Nephmdium propinquum, R. Br. 



Hab.: Nerang Creek, H. Schneider. 



5. A., pteroides (Pteris-like), Swartz. ; Syn. Filic. 47 ; Benth. Fl. Austr. vii. 

 755. Nearly allied to A. unitwn, with the same pinnatifid pinnse and venation. 

 Fronds taller, glabrous or minutely pubescent. Pinnse membranous, usually 6 to 

 ■8in. long and about |in. broad, mostly petiolate, the lower ones scarcely smaller, 

 the lobes reaching about f way to the midrib. Sori rather large, in close 

 marginal rows. Indusium orbicular-reniform.— Bail. Litho. Ferns Ql. 129; 

 Nephrodiuin pteroides, J. Sm. ; Hook, and Bak. Syn. Filic. 289. 



Hab.: Rockingham Bay and other tropical localities. 



Spread over tropical Asia and the Pacific Islands. 



Var. termma Its, Bail. Bot. Bull. 5. Rhizome creeping. Fronds tall. The veins more or 

 less covered by a short, somewhat golden-coloured hoary pubescent and simple white hairs. 

 Pinnee membranous, about 8 or 12in. long and lin. broad, the apex finely acuminated, the 

 terminal one deeply pinnatifid with numerous narrow lobes, sinuses open and much nearer 

 the costule than the ap3x of lobes. Sori very fe-v, ofteu only 3 or 4, and confined to the apex 

 •of segment. Indusium orbicular-reniform.— Bail. Litho. Ferns Ql. 129 : Nephrodium terminan.<:, 

 Hook. Spec. Filic. iv. 73. 



Hab.: Tropical Queensland. 



6. A. moUe (soft), Swartz ; Syn. Filic. 49 ; Betith. Fl. Austr. vii, 756. 

 -"Binung," Bundaberg, Keys. Rhizome short and thick. Fronds 1 to 2ft. long, 

 •on a stipes often as long, simply pinnate, glabrous or hirsute, usually of a light 



