26 
THE FERN WORLD OF AUSTRALIA. 
or rarely three spore-cases nearly concealed within the almost 
slipper-shaped segment in a broad cavity close to the rhachis and 
occupying more than hrdf the breadth of the segment. Found in 
several parts of Queensland running over wet rocks, also in N. 8. 
Wales, Victoria and Tasmania. 
Gr. flabellata, R. Br. Fan Fern. Fronds tall, often six or more 
feet high, repeatedly dichotomous in fan-shaped branches. Pinnules 
numerous along the last branches arid continued along the rhachis 
below the last fork, linear-lanceolate entire or the margins obscurely 
undulate, rarely much above one inch long, dilated . and sometimes 
confluent at the base, one to one and a half lines broad, glabrous or 
with a few scaly hairs underneath, the numerous veinlets proceeding 
from the midrib forked, one fork bearing below the summit a 
superficial sorus of two to five, usually three or four spore-cases. 
Found in damp rocky forest guUies throughout Queensland, N. S. 
Wales, Victoria and Tasmania. The small form called G. tenera 
R. Br. Prod, found in Tasmania differs only from the species in 
having smaller and more membranous fronds. 
G. dichotoma, Hook. This is the largest of the Australian 
species, fronds dichotomous as the last. Pinnules undivided, linear 
or linear-lanceolate, on the last branches of the stipes above the last 
fork, mostly about an inch long but sometimes longer, somewhat 
stiff, glaucous underneath, dilated and often shortly confluent at 
the base, the lowest one on the outer side of the rhachis usually 
longer and more or less pinnatifid. Transverse veinlets proceeding 
from the midrib branching at the base, one branch bearing near the 
base a sorus of eight to twelve spore-cases. This fine showy fern is 
rather plentiful around the borders of tropical scrubs in Queensland 
and North Australia, it is also said to have been gathered in N. S. 
Wales. The following note is given in the Flora Australiensis 
after the description of the species : — R. Brown in transferring it 
from Polypodium to Gleichenia rejected Thumberg's specific name as 
being characteristic of the whole genus and therefore no longer 
appropriate for a single species. Willdenow nevertheless retained 
Thumberg's name but placed the plant in Mertensia, now generally 
united with Gleichenia. Hooker first adopted Thumberg's specific 
name under Gleichenia and has been followed by most others. The 
genera in ferns has been thrown into such confusion and uncertainty 
that pleridologists acknowledge a right of priority in specific names 
whatever may have been the genus under which they may have 
been first pubHshed." 
XL TODEA, WiLLD. 
Trunk or rhizome erect. Frond compound. Spore-cases globular 
or nearly so, pedicellate, with a very obscure transverse ring, , some- 
times only represented by a few parallel stri^ near the apex, opening 
to the base in two valves, clustered in sori on the under surface of 
the segment. Named in honor of Henry JuHus Tode, of Mecklen- 
berg, an eminent Mycologist. 
