TWO LORD HOWE ISLAND POLYPODIA. 387 



longam, subflexuosam, integram setam, interclum geuiinam, pro- 

 ducto. Stipites dense approximati, subcsespitosi, c. 3 - 4 cm. longi, 

 in attenuatam frondis laminam mergentes. Frons integra, 1-2 

 dm. longa, et cir. 1 cm. lata, basin versus sensim tenuissime angus- 

 tata, supra oblongo-lanceolata, breviter acuminata, acumine 

 obtusiusculo, utrisque faciebus (et marginibus, stipitibus, et soris) 

 cum levibus, integris, brunneis, longiusculis, subnexuosis pilis 

 prseditisj nervo tenui, fere ad apicem attingenti, venulis erecto- 

 patentibus, plerumque dichotomis, interdum trifurcatis, furcis fere 

 ad marginem attingentibus; soris sat numerosis, obliquis, in seriebus 

 singulis, subjuxtacostalibus, dispositis, juventate sublinearibus, 

 maturitate ovalibus, prope basin superioris furcse venulse positis. 

 Textura tenui-coriacea. 



On the upper slopes and the summit of Mount Gower; 

 also on Mount Lidgbird. 



This handsome little fern differs from P. Hookeri, (1) in 

 size: it is considerably larger; (2) in venation: in P. 

 Hookeri the lower fork of the dichotomous venule is much 

 longer than the short upper one that bears the sorus, while 

 in our species the two forks (sometimes three) are of equal 

 or nearly equal length ; (3) in the shape and position of the 

 sori, which, in P. Hookeri, are larger, rounder, more 

 closely set in the rows, and closer to the midrib; (4) in the 

 surface hairs, which are shorter and stiffer in P. Hookeri; 

 (5) especially in its basal scales, which are very short and 

 broad, and lighter in colour, in P. Hookeri; (6) in texture: 

 the veins in our species are, with a lens and transparent 

 light, more or less visible, while in P. Hookeri they are 

 altogether obscured. 



The basal scales of P. pulchellum are apparently quite 

 distinctive, with their long, sometimes geminate, setae, 

 which character would have made the name P. setaceum 

 suitable, but for its too close approximation to P. setigerum 

 Bl. and the syn. P. setosum. 



