124 



black hispid rachis ; segments entire, even and revolute edged, stiff, 

 linear, acute-pointed, spreading but rather up curved ^-1 in. 1. 1-1^ li. 

 b. fully adnate at the base and rather dilated more so on the upper than 

 the inferior side, leaving an open space equal to their own width 

 between the outer parts of the segments, the reduced basal ones small 

 and deltoid ; mid veins distinct black and threadlike ; the laterals ob- 

 scure, simple, reaching the margins ; sori dorsal, medial, 6- 12 or more 

 to a side ; capsules not mixed with hairs. 



In frequent on the branches of trees above reach from the ground 

 at 6,000-7,000 ft. alt. in forests ; this is intermediate between rigescens 

 and apiculatum, resembling Loth but partaking more of the rigid habit 

 of the former, from which it may be distinguished at sight by the 

 broader fronds, linear open pinnae which are only about half as many 

 in number, the black midvein not concealed in the pagina, and the ab- 

 sence of hairs among the sporangia. It may be regarded as first of 

 those pectinate species in which the midrib of the pinnae is exposed. 



36. P. taxifolium. — Linn., — Rootstock creeping, short, or elongated 

 and fasciculate, strong, clothed with dark brown linear acuminate 

 scales ; stipites tufted or sub-tufted, strong 3-6 in. 1. and with 

 rachis dark deciduously villous with spreading long tawny hairs 

 which ultimately turn blackish ; fronds lanceolate or oblong lanceo- 

 late, acuminate, ^-1^ ft. 1. 1^-3 in. w , reduced both ways, pinnate, 

 subcoriaceous, pellucid ; naked or with a few marginal hairs, the upper 

 side glossy dark-green, the under pale and nearly glaucous ; pinnae 

 linear, entire, even-edged, very numerous and close, spreading hori- 

 zontally, straight, obtuse-pointed, 1- 1| in. 1., 1^-2 li. b. adnate and 

 equilateral at the base, the lower ones gradually reduced and shortly 

 separated, dilated and (in the larger fronds) slightly auricled on each 

 side ; veins straight, oblique, conspicuous dark and raised beneath as is 

 the threadlike midrib simple, not reaching the margins ; sori submar- 

 ginai, terminal, reaching from the base to the apex of the pinnae, with 

 frequently a cru6taceous scale, one each on the upper side. P. L'Her- 

 minieri Fee Fil. Ant. t. 12. 



Frequent on trees at 7000 ft. alt. on the highest ridges and peaks, 

 plentiful on the higher slopes of Blue Mountain and other peaks ; of 

 the several species of the pectinatum group this is distinguished by its 

 stiff texture, simple veins, andsubmarginal sori. The plant described 

 by Grisebach under this name with " most veinlets 2-fid," seems to be 

 the next species. 



37. P. Plumula, H. B. K. — Rootstock strong, short-creeping, dense- 

 ly clothed with dark very fine scales ; stipites sub-tufted, strong, erect, 

 dark or ebeneous and rather glossy, 2-6 in. 1., puberulous or naked, 

 with faint marginal lines ; fronds ft. 1. 1^-3 in. w., erecto-spread- 

 ing oblong-lanceolate, acuminate somewhat reduced or not at the base, 

 pinnate, pinnae horizontal but often rather up-curved, very numerous 

 and close, linear, acute or obtuse, rather dilated and fully adnate at the 

 equal-sided or more often shortly surcurrent base, 1-lf in. 1. 1^ li. w., 

 the lower ones hardly, if any, more open than the rest, elastico-papy- 

 raceous, naked or glandulose-puberulous, with a few minute fugacious 

 scales on the even margins and the ribs, dark green ; rachis strong, 

 dark or ebeneous and subglossy, glandulose and rusty-puberulous above 

 a few minute deciduous scales beneath ; veins obscure, immersed, 



