66 
THE FERN WORLD OF AUSTRALIA. 
specimens preserved, and the plant not in cultivation at the present 
time. Habitat somewhere between Cape Cleveland and Rockingham 
Bays. 
P. poecilophlelDinm, Hook. Rhizome creeping. Fronds six 
inches to one foot long on a stipes of about the same length, pinnate, 
glabrous, dark green. Pinnae lanceolate, acuminate, four to eight 
inches long, one to one and a half inches broad, shortly contracted 
into a petiolule. Primary parallel veins numerous and prominent, 
pinnate, the branches or veinlets oblique, more or less anastomosing 
with those of the adjoining primary vein, but not forming a straight 
intermediate vein as in the other species of this series. Sori rather 
small, in two irregular rows between each two primary veins. Very 
common in the scrubs of tropical Queensland. 
Series III. — Dictyophlebia. Venation reticulate. Primary 
veins proceeding from the midrib more or less distinctly parallel, 
connected by transverse anastomosing veinlets, enclosing areoles, in 
some of which are short free, usually clavate, veinlets. Sori placed 
either on the free veinlets or on the connecting branches. 
P. serpens, Forst. Rhizome slender, creeping, often forming 
large matted patches on trees and rocks. Fronds small, entire, 
coriaceous, obtuse, contracted into a short stipes, densely covered 
with stellate scales, the barren ones obovate or oblgng, from under 
half to two and a half inches long, the fertile ones linear or oblong- 
linear, three-quarters to two inches long. Venation reticulate, 
concealed in the thick texture of the frond, the dry fronds rugose 
with indented lines not connected with the veins. Sori irregularly 
crowded in the upper part of the frond and often confluent. Abun- 
dant in Queensland, N. S. Wales and Victoria. 
P. confluens, R. Br. Rhizome creeping to a great extent over 
rocks, tree trunks, &c. Fronds entire, coriaceous, obtuse, or rarely 
somewhat acuminate, contracted into the stipes, covered with stel- 
late scales, which are often deciduous on the old fronds, varying 
much in length, both in sterile and fertile fronds from one inch 
to one foot, but always narrow and thick. Veins reticulate, but 
concealed in the texture of frond. Sori large, oval or oblong in a 
row on each side of the costa and often confluent. A verj^ 
abundant fern throughout Queensland and N. S. Wales. 
P. acrostichoides. Forst. Rhizome creeping, wiry, often form- 
ing large masses on coast trees. Fronds lanceolate, entire or 
forked, six inches to two feet long, contracted into a short stipes, 
coriaceous and thick concealing the venation which is reticulate, 
under surface clothed with stellate scales, upper nearly glabrous. 
Sori in the upper portion of the frond small, distinct, very 
numerous in several rows between the margin and the costa! 
Along the tropical coast of Queensland. 
P. attenuatum, R. Br. Rhizome shortly creeping. Fronds 
entire, coriaceous, linear-lanceolate, obtuse or shortly acuminate, 
six to eighteen inches long, quarter to half an inch broad, contracted 
into a short stipes, glabrous, the reticulate venation concealed in the 
