I. FILICES. 
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( sperm-cells ) containing spiral ciliated bodies endowed with active motion ( spermatozoids or 
antherozoids ) ; the female of cavities ( archegonia ), containing each a solitary free cell [germ- 
cell) at its base. Somehow, probably by the agency of water, one or more spermatozoids finds 
its way into the archegonium, and fertilizes the free cell at its base. The free cell forthwith 
begins to send rootlets downwards and astern upwards, and becomes a Fern, the prothallium 
thereon withering away. To observe these parts and processes requires a good microscope ; 
but the production of the prothallium may be easily observed by causing spores to germinate 
on damp earth under a tumbler. 
Of the 120 Ferns described here, 104 were in the ‘ New Zealand Flora,’ of the rest 3 were 
there considered as varieties or not properly discriminated, and the rest are new discoveries or 
additions from Lord Auckland’s and Kermadec Islands. Of the whole number, 45 species and 
1 genus are peculiar to the islands, 60 are common to Australia and Tasmania, and 9 to 
Britain. I have followed the ‘ Species Filicum ’ throughout in the sequence of the genera 
and species, as well as in the difficult matter of their limitation, feeling satisfied that it is, on 
the whole, far the best hitherto proposed. 
I have given two Keys to guide the student to the determination of the genera of this 
very difficult Order. The most important characters of the natural arrangement are derived 
from the form and markings of the minute capsules, which cannot be detected without a 
strong lens and some practice. 
1. ARTIFICIAL KEY TO THE GENERA. 
1. Fructification on a long stipes, apart from leaf-like portion of the frond : — Tribe VIII. 
Ophioglossea:. 
2. Fructification forming distichous spikelets which terminate the fronds or project from 
their surface: — Tribe VI. Schizasaceas. 
3. Fructification on the back or edges of the frond. 
a. Fructification of hard 2-valved bodies which open by parallel slits on the inner faces ot 
the valves : — 29, Marattia. 
fi. Fructification of minute, reticulated, sessile or stalked capsules, collected into clusters 
(sort) of various shapes, bursting vertically or transversely. 
§ Capsule- bearing fronds differing from the barren:— 16, Lomaria ; Polypodium ra- 
pes tre, Doodia caudata. 
§§ Fronds all similar. 
f Sori dorsal. Receptacle elevated. Usually tree-ferns :— Tribe II. Cyatheaceai. 
ft Stem not arboreous. Frond with whorled or dichotomous branches, with buds in the 
axils: — 1. Gleichenia. 
ttf Stem not arboreous. Receptacle not elevated. Frond simple or pinnately or pin- 
natifidly' branched. 
X Sori marginal, covered with an involucre. Capsules sessile on a long receptacle, with 
an oblique or horizontal ring : — Tribe III. Hymenophylleas. 
XX Sori marginal, covered with an involucre. Capsule stalked, with a vertical dorsal 
ring: — 10 ,Lindsa?a; 11, Adiantum; 12, Hypolepis ; 13, Cheilanthes ; 14, Pkllaja ; 
15, Pteris; various species of 19, Asplenium; 24, Nothochlasna. 
JtJ Sori distant from the margin of the frond, globose or puuctiform : — 8, Cystopteris; 
9, Davallia; 19, Aspidium; 20, Nephrodium ; 21, Nephrolepis ; 22, Polypodium. 
Jt+t Sori distant from the margin of the frond, linear or oblong: — (1) Involucrate: 17, 
Doodia ; 18, Asplenium. (2) Involucres 0: 22, Polypodium Qrammitides , var. 
australis; 23, Gymnogramme ; 24, Nothochlasna. 
KEY TO THE NATURAL ARRANGEMENT OF THE GENERA. 
I. Capsules very minute, membranous, reticulated, bursting by an irregular 
transverse or longitudinal fissure, collected in brown masses or sori on the 
edge or back of the frond. 
Tribe I. Gleicheniaceae. Capsules 1-6, sessile, bursting longitudinally , completely 
girt by a transverse or oblique striated ring. 
Rhizome creeping. Fronds rigid, coriaceous 1. Gleichenia. 
