Alsophila. | FILICES. 27 
Cockayne. Usually between 2000 and 4000 ft., but descends to low levels in the south 
of Otago. 
For some interesting remarks on the mode of growth of this species, see Mr. Field’s 
‘“ New Zealand Ferns,”’ quoted above ; also a paper by the same author in the “ Journal 
of Botany ” for 1878, p. 365. 
8. CYSTOPTERIS Bernh. 
Small membranous and flaccid ferns. Rhizome very short, creeping. 
Fronds tufted, 2-3-pinnatifid. Veins pinnate and forked; veinlets free, 
not anastomosing, terminating a little within the margin. Sori small, 
globose, dorsal, placed at a distance from the margin on the back of a vein. 
Indusium ovate-deltoid, membranous, jagged, free at the sides, inserted by 
a broad base under the sorus, and at first bent over it like a hood; 
ultimately reflexed. Sporangia numerous, stalked, girt by an incomplete 
vertical ring, bursting transversely. 
A small genus of 8 species, found in cool damp mountainous situations in the 
temperate regions of both hemispheres. The single New Zealand species has the range 
of the genus. 
1. C. fragilis Bernh. in Schrad. Neu. Journ. Bot. ii (1806) 27, t. 2, £. 9.— 
Rhizome short, suberect, often branched near the top, clothed with red- 
brown lanceolate scales. Stipes 1-4 in. long, slender, fragile, stramineous, 
slightly scaly at the base. Fronds 3-9in. long, 1-2in. broad, oblong- 
lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, thin and membranous, pale-green, pinnate 
or 2-pinnate; rhachis smooth, naked, slightly winged above. Primary 
pinnae rarely more than 1 in. long and usually much less, remote, spreading, 
lanceolate to ovate, toothed or pinnatifid or again pinnate ; pinules oblong, 
usually deeply toothed or incised. Sori 3-12 to a pinnule, medial on the 
veins. Indusium very delicate, at first covering the sorus, but soon re- 
flexed and often disappearing in age.—Hook. Sp. Fil. i (1846) 197; Hook. 
j. Fl. Tasm. 1 (1860) 136, t. 166; Handb. N.Z. Fl. (1864) 358; Hook. and 
Bak. Syn. Fil. (1873) 103; Benth. Fl. Austral. vii (1878) 752; Thoms. 
N.Z. Ferns (1882) 50; Pield N.Z. Ferns (1890) 76, t. 18, £.5,54; Cheesem. 
Man. N.Z. il. (1906) 957. C. tasmanica Hook. Sp. Fal. 1 (1846) 199; Te. 
Plant. t. 959. C. novae-zelandiae J. B. Armstr. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xiti 
(1881) 360. (%) C. laciniatus Col. in Trans. N.Z. Inst SMxxi (1899) 265. 
NortH Isnanp: Mount Egmont, Mrs. Jones, T. F. C.; Tararua Ranges, 
Buchanan ; Wairarapa Valley, H. C. Field. Souta Istanp: Not uncommon in 
mountain districts throughout. Usually from 1000 to 4000 ft., but descends almost 
to sea-level in several localities in the South Island. 
Almost universally distributed in the North and South Temperate Zones and on the 
higher mountains of the tropics, and everywhere extremely variable. The New Zealand 
plant differs from the type in its slightly smaller size and more tender and delicate 
habit. It was constituted a separate species by Mr. J. B. Armstrong, and a very 
similar if not identical plant-form from Tasmania was also separated by Sir W. J. 
Hooker, but afterwards abandoned. After comparing these with a lengthy series of 
Huropean and North American specimens of C. fragilis, I find that the differences are 
so uncertain and trifling as to dissipate any idea of maintaining the New Zealand plant 
as distinct. ‘ 
9, POLYSTICHUM Roth. 
Rhizome short or erect or ascending, or long and creeping, Fronds 
tufted at the top of the rhizome, or more or less distant along it, variable 
in size and cutting, coriaceous, veins free. Sori globose, dorsal, placed 
