Pelleea .] 
I. FILICES. 
63 
more or less membranous, formed of or continuous with the edges of the 
frond, opening inwards, continuous along the margin, at length recurved ex- 
posing the sorus. 
A considerable tropical and temperate genus. 
Erect. Pinnules lanceolate, falcate, acute 1. P.falcata. 
Decumbent or prostrate. Pinnules orbicular 2. P. rotnndifolia. 
1. P. falcata, Br. — Pteris, FI. N. Z. ii. 24. Rhizome short, wiry, 
rigid. Fronds tufted, 1-3 ft. high, rigid, erect, narrow-linear, pinnate ; stipes 
black, hispid ; rachis scaly and villous ; pinnules quite glabrous, shortly sti- 
pitate, linear-lanceolate or oblong, -f-1-l in. long, acute or mucronate, broadly 
obliquely cuneate at the base, which is sometimes gibbous above ; veins very 
obscure. Sori broad, continuous round the pinnule ; involucre very narrow. 
— Hook. Sp. Fil. ii. 135 ; P. seticaulis, Hook. Ic. PI. t. 207. 
Northern Island : Auckland, Sinclair. Kermadec Islands, Macgillivray . Also found 
in India, Tasmania, and Australia. 
2. P. rotundifolia, Forst. ; — Pteris, FI. N. Z. ii. 24. Rhizome short, 
wiry, rigid. Fronds tufted, rigid, generally decumbent or prostrate, very 
narrow linear, 6-24 in. long, pinnate ; stipes and rachis hispid and scaly ; 
pinnules broadly oblong or rounded, obtuse or mucronate, obliquely truncate 
at the base, glabrous, dark green ; veins very obscure. Sori often in inter- 
rupted lines. — Hook. Sp. Fil. ii. 136 ; Fil. Exot. t. 48. 
Abundant throughout the Northern and Middle Islands, Banks and Solander, etc. 
Though, in its ordinary states, very unlike the preceding, intermediates occur. 
15. PTERIS, Linn. 
Rhizome usually creeping. — Fronds of various habit. Veins free forked 
or netted. Sori continuous along the edge of the frond. Involucre scarious 
or membranous, linear, continuous along the edge of the frond and confluent 
with its incurved margin, not recurved with age. 
One of the largest genera of ferns, found in all quarters of the globe. 
§ 1. Eupteris. — j Fronds 2- or 3-pinnate. Veins forked, free. 
Proud tall, rigid, glabrous or pubescent below. Pinnules decurrent. 1. P.aqnilina. 
Prond tall, membranous, quite glabrous. Pinnules oblong, large . 2. P. tremula. 
Frond rigid, glandular-pubescent. Pinnules minute 3. P. scaberula. 
§ 2. Litobrochia. — Fronds 2- or 3-pinnate. Veins netted. 
Prond coriaceous, glaucous below 4. P. incisa. 
Frond membranous. Pinnules stipitate, coarsely serrate .... 5. P. macilenta. 
Frond membranous. Pinnules serrate at the tips only 6. P. Endliclieriana. 
1. P. aquilina, Linn., var. esculenta, FI. N. Z.ii. 25. Rhizome sub- 
terranean, very stout, as thick as the thumb or more. Fronds solitary, some- 
times 10 ft. high, 2-4 ft. broad, broad deltoid, 3- or 4-pinnate, rigid, coria- 
ceous; stipes rigid, erect, grooved on one side, pale, glabrous, shining; branches 
spreading ; pinnules linear, decurrent on the rachis, often hairy below ; costa 
stout, often hairy ; veins forked, free. Sori continuous, often all round the 
pinnule, and along their decurrent bases ; involucre coriaceous. — Hook. Sp. 
Fil. ii. 196 ; P. esculenta, Forst.; Labill. FI. Nov. Holl. t. 244. 
Abundant throughout the islands, from the Kermadec to Campbell's Island : cover- 
