14 



AUSTRALASIAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION 



In order to make a comparison of the two forms, it will be convenient to show 

 the descriptions as given by De Toni in parallel columns. The points of apparent 

 difference are in italics (ours). 



P. leptophyttum. 



conn)) -um. 



Fronde anguste Iineari, ecostata, decomposito- 

 pinnata, 



pinnis alterne 3-5, omnibus angustissimis a basi 

 latiore longe acurninatis, infima simplici nunc 

 recurvata et subcircinatiru revoluta, 



laciniis superiorum rectis subulatis integerrimis ; 



Sporophyllis secus margines seriatis supra stipitem 

 longiorem lanceolatis simpliciusculis, 



infra apieein apiculo uxilaterali aid duobus oppositis 

 brevioribus subcruciatis, 



duplici serie tetrasporangia monstrantibus. 



Fronde anguste Iineari, ecostata, decomposito- 



pinnata, 

 pinnis alterne ternis vel quaternis, 



(Conf. var. uncinaturn J. Ag.) 



inferiori lacimisque superiorum a basi parum 



latiore acurninatis subulatis integerrimis ; 

 Sporopbyllis singulis supra stipitem lanceolatis 



simpliciusculis, 

 aut infra apicem in apicidos paucos abeuntibus, 



duplici serie tetrasporangia monstrantibus. 



For comparison I have figured sporophylls of a plant collected at Eden in the 

 south of New South Wales, near the Victorian border. The sporophylls occur normally 

 in threes, and are evidently transformed pinnules of various orders. (Plate 7, c, d. ) 



Some are simply forked, others simple with one unilateral apiculus, others show 

 the cruciate form, while in the rough sketch of another sporophyll from the same 

 plant the branching is seen to be extremely complex — so as to diverge widely from 

 Kuet zing's description in P. leptophyllum. 



The length of the pedicels of the sporophylls varies a good deal, but whatever 

 variation occurs in the Antarctic form occurs as freely in the Australian. The number 

 of the pinnse, 3-5 in P. leptophyllum and 3 or 4 in P. coccineum, is not of value as a 

 constant character. I have plants I gathered off the Isle of Wight, England, in which 

 there are several series of 5 pinnse. The base of the primary pinnae is wide in both 

 forms, the base of the sporophylls usually narrow. 



My conclusion is that the Australian P. leptophyllum is identical with the 

 Antarctic form, and I can see no valid reasons for separating either from P. coccineum. 



Delesseriace^ (Naegeli) Schmitz. 



Schizoneura J.Ag. 



Schizoneura quercifolia (Bory) J.Ag. 



= Delesseria quercifolia Bory, Voyage de la Coquille, Atlas Cryptogams, PL 18. 



A number of plants were dredged by the collectors of the Mawson Expedition 

 at a depth of 60 fathoms in lat. 65° 42' S., long. 92° 10' E., on 21st January, 1914. 

 They were growing attached to stouter Floridese. 



