Gen. XII, Sr. 3. Gen. XIII, Sr. 1. 
always perfectly smooth, rachis and stipes polished ; pinnules Ic 
and narrow, joined by a broad base to the pinnae ; sori continue 
round their edges. Sometimes quadri-pinnate, darker in colo 
and thick in texture. Abundant throughout the Northern Islai 
re 
3. P. scaberula. A very pretty and distinct species ; from T 
span to 2 feet high, stiff, tri-pinnate ; stipes and rachis stout, a. 
covered with small reddish hairs ; pinnules thick in texture, sm; 
bright green ; sori forming a yellow margin to their under-surfa , 
Abundant as far south as Akaroa. 
§ Litobrochia. 
4. P. (Litobrochia) incisa. Fronds smooth, 2-4 feet high, ! 
tri-pinnate, paler beneath than above ; pinnules oblong, unc i a 
joined by a broad base to the pinnae. Immature fronds fade qui< lG 
ly, and dry a blackish green, but when mature and soriferous sjj 
firm and rigid. Throughout the Islands, not uncommon on 1 *■ 
margins of woods. 
5. P. ( Litobrochia ) macilenta. Frond 1-5 feet high, brig' a 
green, bi-quadri-pinnate ; the upper pinnules are joined by a bre i- 
base to the rachis, the lower ones are stalked, scattered, and dee] : o 
cut, green on both sides ; stipes pale, shining, smooth, or with a 
few scattered hairs. Throughout the Northern Island in d£ M 
groves. At the North Head, Auckland. 
6. P. ( Litobrochia ) comans. A very handsome fern, lar 
rather dark green, bi-tri-pinnate ; pinnae and pinnules broad, cl< 
together ; tips of the latter, notched. Bay of Islands. Great B 
rier. Manukau Harbour. $ 
Although these three ferns are very different in appearan 
it is difficult, without the use of technical language, to d ( 
cribe the distinction between them. Perhaps the light und 
surface of the first ; the scattered, leaf-like, pinnules of 1 
second; and the larger, deeper green, and close pinnae, of thethir 
will suffice to distinguish them until all three have been compar 
when there can be no difficulty in giving each its right name. 
Gen. XIII. — Lomaria. 
§ A. 
1 . L. procera. The most common and abundant of this gem 
chiefly found in woods and marshes. Fronds a span to 4 feet, hi j 
broad ; stipes generally scaly at the base, rachis generally smoot; 
pinnae of barren fronds long and narrow ; fertile pinnae sometim 
occupying one side of the sterile frond, more often on a separ; 
frond. 
22 
