1978 OLVI. FILICES. [Aspidium. 



inner side. Veins forked,, diverging from the midrib. Sori usually 6 to 8 on 

 each pinnule.— F. V. M. Fragm. v. 134; Sieb. Syn. Filie. n. 104; Bail. Litho. 

 J'erns Ql. 135 ; A. proliferum, E, Br. Prod. 147 ; Polystichum vestitum, Presl.; 

 Book. f. Fl. Tasm. ii. 148. 



Hab.: Southern localities. 



In most temperate and subtropical regions of the globe. 



10 A. aristatum (awned), Swartz.; Hook: Spec. Filie. iv. 27 ; Syn. Filic. 

 255 ; Benth. Fl. Amtr. vii. 757. Fronds 1 to 2ffc. high, broadly ovate-triangular 

 in outline, twice pinnate or the lower pinnse again pinnate at the base, firm but 

 thin light green and glossy, the stipes scaly-hairy at the base. Pinnules or 

 se^nients very obliquely oblong or lanceolate, | to lin. long, narrowed or cuneate 

 at°the base, bordered at ths end by a few teeth ending in -bristle-like points. 

 Veins forked, diverging from the midrib. Sori small, not numerous, loosely 

 arranged in 2 rows. Indusium small, orbioular-reniform.— F. v. M. Fragm. v. 

 131 ; Bail. Litho. Ferns, Ql. 136 ; Lastrea aristata, T. Moore ; Bail. Ql. Ferns, 49. 



Hab.:- Rockingham Bay, DaJtacfty; Port Denison, i^J8i:aia« ; Jfterikng, Schneider. 



Spread over Eastern Asia from the Himalayas to Japan, in the Pacific Islands and South 

 Africa. 



11. A. decompositum (much divided), Spreng. Syst. iv. 109 ; BentH. Fl. 

 Austr. V. 758. ' Rhizome short and thick or longer and creeping. Fronds 

 glabrous or the rhachis and primary nerves pubescent, very variable in size .and 

 outline, the smaller ones ovate-lanceolate, 6in. to near Iffc. long, on a stipes often 

 nearly as long, pinnate with deeply pinnatifid pinnae, the larger ones twice as 

 long, much broader in proportion and thrice pinnate. Primary and secondary 

 pinnse ending in a narrow pinnatifid apex. Pinnules or segments lanceolate, 

 2 to 3 lines broad, pinnately toothed or lobed, the teeth acute or mucronate and 

 the margin of the lobes usually nerve-like. Veins pinnate, more or less divided 

 according to the division of the pinnules. Sori usually 1 or 2 to each principal 

 lobe not very far from the midrib. Indusium orbioular-reniform often concealed 

 as the sorus enlarges. — F. v. M. Fragm. v. 186 ; Bail. Litho. Ferns Ql. 137 ; 

 Nephrochum docompodtum, R. Br. Prod. 149 ; Hook. Spec. Filic. iv. 146, Syn. 

 Filie. 281 ; Hook. f. Fl. Tasm. ii. 149, Fl. N. Zel. t. 79 ; Lastrea decomposita, 

 Presl; Bail. Queensl. Ferns, 49, 



Hab.: Broadsound, JfJ. Brown ; Rockingham and Cleveland 'B&j,' Ballachy \ Bowen, Woolls; 

 Brisbane River, Moreton Bay, Fraser,.C. Stuart; Rockhampton and other southern localities, 

 Thozet and others. 



Also in New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. 



12. A. acuminatum (acuminate), var. villosum, Bail. 3rd Suppl. Syn. 

 Ql. Fl. 93. Rhizome shortly creeping, more or less covered at the end with 

 broad, brown scales ; stipites slender, 3 to Bin. long, clothed with short 

 soft hairs, and a few scales at the base. Fronds somewhat deltoid, 8 to 7in. 

 long and broad ; rhachis and midrib densely clothed with rather long soft white 

 hairs. Sori scanty on the few fronds gathered. — Bail. Litho. Ferns Ql. 138. 



Hab.: South Peak, Bellenden Ker. 



13. A. tenerum (tender), Spreng. Syst. iv. 109; Benth. Fl. Austr. vii. 759. 

 Very near A. decompositum and yaries like it in the fronds twice or thrice pinnate, 

 with the lobes or teeth acute, but the pinnules and segments are more regular 

 and more regularly pinnatpjy-lobed or dentate, the parallel branches of the veins 

 much more numerous, and the sori are close to the margin at a distance from the 

 midrib. — Bail. Litho. Ferns Ql. 139 ; Nephrodium tenerum,. E. Br. Prod. 149. 



Hab.: Keppel Bay, R. Brown; Mount Elliott, Fitzalan; Mount Mueller, Dallachy ; Rock- 

 hampton, Boicman ; Moreton- Bay, C. Stuart. 



