256 
New Zealand Ferns 
(100) Var. tripinnatum (three-pinnate). Fronds 
ample; thrice divided; leaflets narrow, resembling some 
forms of A. flaccidam, but more compound and the tex- 
ture thinner ; producing bulbs sparingly. Found through- 
out the Dominion. I have met with no more ravishing 
picture than the uncurling fronds of this species. 
Mr. Cheeseman has an interesting note on this species. 
“The typical state of A. bulbiferum is a well-known 
plant throughout the whole of New Zealand, and is at 
once distinguished from the other species of the genus 
by the ample dark-green bipinnate fronds with compara- 
tively broad pinnules, and especially by its habit of pro- 
ducing small bulbils on the upper surface of the frond. 
. . . When the bulbils are not developed, and the frond 
is more slender, with narrower and more deeply-divided 
pinnules, so that the sori are often almost marginal, the 
plant becomes Var. laxum. . . Var. tripinnatum has still 
narrower pinnules . . . and the sori are quite marginal. 
. . . In addition to the above varieties, there are a large 
number of puzzling forms which apparently connect the 
species with A. jalcatum, A. lucidum Var. Lyalli, A. 
lucidum Var. scleroprium, A. Hookerianum, A. Rich 
ardi, and A. flaccidum. . . .” 
