74 
THE PERN WORLD OF AUSTRALIA. 
hue. Found in salt swamps, from the Clarence River in N. S. 
Wales, round the coast to Port Essington in North Australia. 
A. spioatum, Linn. Rhizome thick, horizontal, usually found 
on rocks or trunks of trees as an epiphyte. Fronds simple, four to 
eighteen inches long, the lowest sterile portion lanceolate or linear- 
lanceolate, three to nine lines broad the contracted fertile apex 
linear, several inches long, and one to two lines broad. Veins in 
the sterile portion obliquely reticulate with a free veinlet within the 
areoles. Sori in the fertile portion forming a broad continuous line 
on each side of the costa with the margin recurved over them when 
young, but at length covering the under surface. Spore-cases often 
intermixed with peltate scales. Queensland, Herbert River and 
Brisbane River, scrubs, Enoggera creek ; very plentiful on logs and 
rocks. 
A. pteroides, R. Br. Rhizome short, horizontal. Fronds close 
and very numerous, pinnate or bi-pinnate, three to six inches long, 
on a stipes of equal length, very fragile, scaly at the base. Segments 
linear, three-quarters to one and a half inches long, about a line 
broad. Sori on numerous, almost parallel veins at a little distance 
from the costule, so close together as to cover the whole frond except 
the costule and the margin which is recurved over the sori. At first 
sight this curious and rare fern might be taken for a form of Pteris 
ensiformis. Queensland, Endeavour River and Gilbert River. 
XXXVIIT. — Platycerium, Desv. 
Rhizome short and thick. Fronds large, of two forms, the outer 
ones of each year's growth sterile and horizontally spreading, the 
fertile ones erect, cuneate, forked or dichotomous, the veins 
prominent, radiating and reticulate. Sori forming large broad 
patches in the sinus of first fork, or occupying the ends of the 
lobes. Name from the Greek platys, broad, and keras, a horn, 
form of fronds. 
P. alcicorne, Desv. Elk's-horn fern. Sterile frond cordate 
cottony, when young sixteen to eighteen inches, long and broad,, 
rigid, the margin more or less sinuate or obtusely lobed. Fertile 
fronds attaining two to three feet, contracted into a distinct stipes^ 
dilated upwards, several times forked. Sori or patches of spore- 
cases occupying the greater part of the ultimate lobes. A stout 
growth of this species has lately been figured in the Gardener's. 
Chronicle under the name P. Hi]lii, but with equal propriety many 
more species could be made out of our two Platyceriums. Found 
on trees and rocks from Ulawarra in N. S. Wales, to Endeavour 
River in Queensland ; varying in form according to situation. 
P. grande, J. Sm. Stag's-horn fern. A very large epiphyte. 
Sterile fronds often two feet in diameter, with very prominent veins, 
the margins deeply and irregularly lobed. Fertile fronds from a 
broad rigid winged stipes, expanding to a great breadth dichotomously 
divided with a very broad truncate sinus at the first fork under 
