Aspidium.] CLVI. FILICES. 1977 



green. Pinnaa lanceolate, the longec ones 3 to Gin. long or even more, often 

 aouiuinate, regularly pinnatifid, the lobes sometimes short sometimes reaching 

 above half-way to the midrib, the pinnae truncate at the base, mostly sessile, 

 the lower ones gradually smaller and more distant. Veins pinnate in each 

 lobe and prominent, the branches or veinlets of adjoining lobes united in a 

 vein tending to the sinus. Sori usually in a row about halfway between the 

 midrib of tha lobe and the margin. Indusium orbioular-reniform, soon disappear- 

 ing.— P. V. M. Fragm. v. 185 ; Bail. Litho. Ferns Ql. 180 ; Polypodium molle, 

 Jacq. Ic. Ear. t. 640 ; Nephrodium molle, R. Br. Prod. 149 ; Hook. Spec. Filic. 

 iv. 67, Syn. Filic. 293; Bedd. Ferns 8. Ind. t. 84. 



Hab.: Johnstone Biver, Gullicer ; York Peninsula, N. Taylor ; Eockingham Bay, W. Hill, 

 Dalldchy; Bowen, WooUs ; Brown Biver, M-GilUvray; Port Denison and Daintree Eiver^ 

 IHtzalan ; Bockhampton, Bowman, O'Shanesy ; Moretou Bay, F. v. Mueller, G. Stuart ; a very 

 common species. 



Var. didymosorus. Sori 1 or 2 to each lobe and only at the junction of the lowest veinli ts of 

 adjoining lobea. — Bail. Litho. Ferns, Ql. 131 ; Nephrodium didymoiorum, Bedd. Ferns Brit. 

 Ind. t 200. 



Hab.: Bockingbam Bay, Dallachy. 



Tar. decurtatam, Bail. Bot. Bull. 5 and Litho. Ferns Ql. 129. A peculiar growth found near 

 the pumping station on Stradbroke Island ; most of the plants observed produced fronds with 

 very blunt pinncB, as shown on plate, but here and there were noticed a frond or so of the 

 ordinary form. 



The species is spread over tropical Asia and Africa and the Pacific Islands. 



7. A., truncatum (truncate), Gaudich, in B'reyc. Voy. Bot. 332, t. 10 ; Benth. 

 Ft. Austr. vii. 756. Very closely allied to A. molle, and difficult to distinguish 

 by any positive characters. Usually a much larger plant, the fronds often 4 or 

 Hft. high and sometimes more, the larger pinnse 6in. to 1ft. long, the lobes more 

 obtuse, often quite truncate. — Bail. Litho. Ferns Ql. 13.3 ; Nephrodium ti-uncatuwy 

 Presl ; Hook, and Bak. Syn. Filic. 294 ; N. abruptum, Presl ; Hook. Spec. Filic. 

 iv. 77, t. 241 ; Bedd. Ferns 8, Ind. t. 86 ; Aspidium extensum, F. v. M. Fragm. 

 V. 135, but scarcely of Blume. 



Hab.: Nerang Creek, H. Schneider. 



Also in tropical Asia and the Pacific Islands. 



8. A., COnfluens (confluent), Metten. in Linnaa, xxxvi. 125 ; Benth. II Azistr. 

 vii. 757. Fronds 1 to 8ft. long or rather more, deeply pinnatifid or pinnate at 

 the base. Segments lanceolate, often numerous, the upper ones 2 to 6in. long,^ 

 pinnately toothed or lobed, confluent on the broadly-winged rhachis, the inter- 

 mediate ones 6 to lOin. long, deeply pinnatifid and decurrent on the rhachis, 

 the lowest pair quite free at the base, pinnatifid with long lanceolate lobes,, 

 of which the outer ones are again pinnatifid, all membranous. Veins 

 copiously netted. Sori scattered, either on short veinlets free in the areoles or on 

 the anastomosing veinlets. Indusium when perfect rather larjje, orbicular, 

 peltate or on the same frond attached by a deep sinus. — Bail. Litho. Ferns Ql. 

 134 ; Nephrodium confluens, F. v. M. ; Hook, and Bak. Syn. Filic. 504 ; A. 

 melanocaulon, F. v. M. Fragm. v. 133, not of Blume ; Sagenia melanocaulon, Bail.. 

 Ql. Ferns, 47. 



Hab.: Johnstone Biver, Gulliver; Eockingham Bay, Dallachy; Daintree Biver, Fitzalan; 

 York Peninsula, N. Taylor ; common in tropical scrubs. 



9. A. aculeatum (prickly), Swartz; Hook. Spec. Filic. iv. 113, Brit. Ferns, 

 t. 10 to 12, Syn. Filic. 252 ; Benth. Fl. Austr. vii. 757. Lady Fern. Ehizome 

 short and thick. Fronds 1 to 2ft. high, twice pinnate, the lower part of the 

 stipes and the whole frond when young very shaggy, with dark-brown scarious 

 scales mixed with hairlike ones. Primary pinnse lanceolate in outline, 1| to 4in. 

 long, the lower ones decreasing in length ; pinnules ovate-lanceolate, curved, 3 to 

 6 lines long, prickly-toothed, with a prominent angle or lobe on the upper or 



