of some New Zealand Ferns. 
165 
nerally found covered with the Cypsela of Composite, small 
moths and flies, and other insects ; insomuch that it is rather 
a difficult matter to procure good specimens for an herbarium. 
In general the lower pinnules on the fertile fronds are found 
in a withered and circinnate state, whilst the upper part of 
the frond has scarcely gained maturity. 
§. IlEMiONiTiDEiE, Frcyc. et Kaulf. 
Gymnoyramma, Besv, 
Sporangia venis primariis furcatis pinnatisve imposita, in 
soros Iineares oblongosve collecta. Indusium nullum. Endl. 
3. G. NovjE Zelandije, n. sp. Plant , small, caespitose, 
erect, glabrous, terrestrial. Frond ', ovate or ovate-lanceolate, 
or deltoid-ovate, obtuse, membranaceous, bi-pinnate or pin¬ 
nate-pin natifid, 6—20 lines long. Pinnules ; primaries, 
trapezio-ovate, obtuse or emarginate, pctiolate, margined, 
alternate, remote : secondaries , flabelliform, mostly deeply 
three-cleft, alternate pctiolate; petioles short: segments, 
bifid : lobes , somewhat cuneate-linear, emarginate or obtuse, 
entire; veins, simple, forked. Sori , oblong, forked, thick 
and confluent, on furcate veins of lobes, nearly covering the 
whole under surface of segments. Sporangium , obovatc, 
reticulated, sub-sessile, membranaceous, whitish ; annulus, 
incomplete, cinnamon-coloured. Sporules, sub-deltoid, tri¬ 
angular, obtusely angled, dotted, glossy, blackish. Rachis 
and Stipe, semi-terete, brittle, deeply channelled on upper 
surface, shining, red ; Stipe, 1—2 inches. Root, fibrous ; 
fibres, densely clothed with long silky hairs. 
Ilab. In sheltered grassy spots among scoriae, on dry vol¬ 
canic hills, between Manukau Bay and Tamaki Creek, about 
ten miles from Auckland ; 1842. 
Obs. This elegant little Fern is the only species of Gymno- 
gramma yet discovered in New Zealand. It grows plentifully 
on those hills, where it is an annual, being invariably withered 
up and destroyed with the heats of summer. 
