98 



Asplenium obtusatum — Forster. 



Hab. Shady situations near springs, Buffalo Ranges. 



Fr. 



"Frondibus pinnatis coriaceis, pinnis oblongis obtusis acutiusculisve grosse 



serratis basi subattenuatis, rachi marginata." — Prodromus, p. 6 (150.) 

 (Name from asplenon, some species having probably been used as a cure for 

 spleen.) 



Bleclmum striatum — Swartz. 

 Hab. 

 Fr. 

 "Frondibus pinnatis lanceolatis, pinnis lineari-ensiformibus acutis serrulatis 



opacis venoso-striatis ; inferioribus suboppositis, rachi nuda, stipite semi- 



tereti."— Prodromus, p. 8 (152.) 



( Stegania procera. 



(Lomaria . Sprengel. 



Hab. Banks of the Yarra. 

 Fr. 



"Frondibus pinnatis oblongo-ellipticis, pinnis sterilibus lanceolato-ensiformi- 

 bus acuminatis serratis basi subcordatis, fertilibus (ejusdem vel diversas 

 frondis) linearibus; costa subtus paleacea, involucris sub-intramargin- 

 alibus." — Prodromus, p. 9 (153.) 



Pteris esculenta — Forster. 



Hab. Common everywhere. 



Fr. 



This fern needs no description, it is the common bracken of the colony. Mr. 

 Backhouse, in speaking of the root, says, "Pigs feed upon this root, where 

 it has been turned up by the plough, and in sandy soils they will them- 

 selves turn up the earth in search of it. The aborigines roast it in the 

 ashes, peel off its black skin with their teeth, and eat it with their 

 roasted kangaroos, and in the same manner as Europeans eat bread." 



(Name from pteron, a wing — probably from the expanded appearance which 

 this fern presents.) 



Adiantum assimile — Swartz. 



Hab. Abundant on the banks of the Yarra, and in shrubby places about 

 Warrnambool. 



Fr. January. 



This, the most elegant of oui> native ferns, will be at once recognised from its 

 similarity to the Adiantum capillus-veneris, or "true maiden's hair," so 

 rare in England. Whether our plant possesses the extraordinary virtues 

 which are attributed to it we know not, but it is a gem in every way ; 

 and we recommend it to our fair readers as a great improvement, inter- 

 mingled with a white rosebud, on the trashy artificial flowers so com- 

 monly worn in the hair. 



