POLYPODIACE.E. 7 



into an entire point about half an inch in length, with an attenuated 

 base, smooth, coriaceous in texture, and of a paler colour on the under 

 than on the upper surface ; the segments oblong-linear, alternate, entire, 

 towards the point triangular, subrotund at base, and decurrent on the 

 stipes. Rhachis black, glossy, and prominent on the under side, with 

 scattered, horny scales. Veins sunk and simple, seldom forked. Sori 

 plane, oval, nearer to the margin than costa, 6 to 8 on each segment, 

 becoming confluent; a few short setae intermingled with the sporangia. 



Although much smaller, yet in the habit, consistency, form, and 

 divisions of its fronds, our plant is not unlike the Davallia contigua 

 of Swartz. 



Plate 2. — Fig. 1. Plant, of the natural size. la. Section of a 

 frond, showing sori. 1 b. Hairs from among the sporangia. 1 c. Hairs 

 from the under side of the rhachis. 1 d. Sporangium and spores. 

 Dissections more or less magnified. 



8. Polypodium decorum, Sp. Nov. (Tab. 2.) 



P. rJdzomate brevi repente paleaceo ; frond ibus breviter stipitatis lineari- 

 lanceolatis coriaceis glabris acuminatis basi attenuatis pectinato-pin- 

 natifidis, laciniis linearibus alternis integris obtusis ; rhachide nigro 

 subtus prominente ; venis pinnatis obscuris ; soris obliquis subimmersis 

 solitariis demum confluentibus. 



Hab. Tahiti, Society Islands : in mountain forests, on trees. 



Rootstoch short and creeping, densely imbricated with linear, very 

 much attenuated, brown, reticulated palece. Fronds few, erect, coria- 

 ceous and smooth, pale on the under surface, about 6 inches long, 

 linear-lanceolate, somewhat acuminated at the point, with an attenuated 

 base, pectinate-pinnatifid. Segments alternate, spreading, those about 

 the middle of the frond linear, obtuse, near to the apex and at the base 

 they are triangular-ovate, and decurrent on a smooth stipes, of about 

 half an inch in length. Rhachis black and prominent on the under side, 

 with a few scattered, fugacious, dark-brown setae, which sometimes 

 are found in tufts opposite the base of the sinus. Veins obscure, and 

 sunk in the thick substance of the segments, invariably pinnate. Sori 

 from 8 to 12 on a segment, subimmersed, oblong, solitary, and of a dark- 



