OQO BOTANY OF NORTH-EASTERN NEW SOUTH WALES, 



of six and four feet respectively. The latter elegant species was 

 once described to me as a miniature conifer, and I agreed 

 with this apt description. Psilotum triquetrum Swartz, grows 

 on trees and in the crevices of rocks, and has erect or pendulous, 

 repeatedly dichotomous stems and minute, scale-like leaves. 

 Marsileacece have two species, Marsilea quadrifolia Linn., an 

 aquatic, and M. hirsuta R.Br., a terrestrial plant. 



The Filices comprise some of the most beautiful ferns to be 

 found in Australia. Indeed, so far as New South Wales is con- 

 cerned, the North-East owing to its high temperature and 

 abundant rainfall may be considered best suited for their 

 development. Ophioglossum pendulum Linn., an epiphyte 

 growing on other epiphytal ferns is not common. Occasionally 

 I have seen its ribbon-like pendulous fronds nearly nine feet 

 long, and one seeing this plant for the first time would hardly 

 believe that it was a true fern. Lygodium scandens Swartz, an 

 elegant twiner or climber usually growing in swamps or damp 

 places, forms dense masses very difficult to penetrate. The three 

 species of Schizcea are curious and pretty ferns, two of them 

 fairly common in sandy country, but the other, S. forsteri Spreng., 

 I have rarely seen except about the surface roots of palms and 

 fern trees. Gleichenia has four species found on wet rocks, in 

 damp ravines, near swamps and on the borders of dense brushes. 

 Two conspicuous species are : — G.flabellata R.Br., a very beauti- 

 ful fern with fronds sometimes seven or more feet high, and G. 

 dichotoma Hook., the largest species of the genus, a very attractive 

 plant often growing ten or more feet high. Todea barbara T. 

 Moore, occasional^ develops an enormous but short trunk with 

 fronds nine or more feet long, and usually grows in deep ravines 

 in, or near, water. Some of the species of Trichomanes and 

 Hymenophyllum, found on the trunks of trees, logs and rocks in 

 damp, shady situations, are fairly abundant. Arborescent ferns 

 are included in the genera Cyathea, Alsophila and Dicksonia, and 

 several are common in many parts of this area. Some of the 

 tallest are between thirty and forty or even more feet high, and 

 their large, graceful fronds have a charming effect amongst the 



