15 



Common at all elevations from the valleys of the lower hills up to the slopes of the highest ridges 

 and peaks, in forests, on wet surfaces quite through the country. There are 3 or 4 distinct forms, all 

 of which are of a very dark dull colour and in pressing, to be preserved, dry black. The long stalked 

 f«rm, in which the fronds are 1^ ft. 1. is T. Kunzeanum, Hook., and the one in which the fronds are 

 muck shorter, and without stalks is T. Luschuatianum, Presl., but there are intermediate forms which 

 connect these. 



25. T. rigidum, Sw. 



Stalks strong, wiry, 3-6 in. 1., erect, tufted, arising from a short root-stock, somewhat erect ; fronds 

 etect, much divided, ovate, long-pointed, 4-8 in. 1., 3-6 in. w., dark-green ; rachis and ribs faintly mar- 

 gined ; pinnae spreading, approximate, about a dozen to each side ; 



sori more or less copious, in the angles of the final segments ; 



involucres stalked and free, or partly adherent, mouth rather dilated or even two-lipped ; 

 receptacles shortly protruding. 



Very abundant in wet forests of the higher elevations, and descending as low as 1,500 ft., at which 

 ait., it extends throughout the island. A terrestrial species, plentifully scattered over the forest floor 

 in some situations, very wiry and stiff, with elastic membrane that shrivels in drying. It is much, 

 more abundant and larger at the higher elevations. 



