38 FILICES. [Arthropteris. 
A small genus of 3 species; one (A. altescandens) confined to the island of Juan 
Fernandez ; another (A. obliterata) spread over the tropics of Asia, Africa, Australia, 
and Polynesia ; and the New Zealand species, which is also found in Australia and New 
Caledonia. 
1. A. tenella, J. Smith in Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. ii (1855) 48, t. 82.—- 
Rhizome very long, slender, rigid, wiry, climbing up the trunks cf trees or 
over rocks, clothed with chestnut-brown scales with a dark base. Stipes 
short, 1-3 im. long, jointed near the rhizome, smooth or more or less scaly. 
Fronds scattered along the rhizome, erect or pendulous, 1-2 ft. long, 2-5 in. 
broad, linear-oblong or lanceolate, dark-green, thinly coriaceous, quite 
glabrous, pinnate; rhachis smooth or slightly scaly. Pinnae distant, alter- 
nate, shortly stipitate, articulate on the rhachis, spreading, 14-3 in, long, 
iz In. broad, lanceolate, attenuate at the tip, obliquely cuneate at the 
base, entire or obscurely undulate-crenate. Veins all free, once or twice 
forked. Sori globose, in 2 series in each pinnule, almost close to the 
margin.—Polypodium tenellum Forst. f. Prodr. (1786) n. 440; A. Cunn. 
Precur. (1836) n. 176; Raoul Choir (1846) 37; Hook. Sp. Fal. iv (1862) 
217; Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. (1864) 380; Hook. and Bak. Syn. Fil. 
(1873) 337; Benth, Fl. Austral. vii (1878) 764; Thoms. N.Z. Ferns (1882) 
88; Meld N.Z. Ferns (1890) 139, t. 4, f. 4; Cheesem. Man. N.Z. FI. 
(1906) 1011. | 
Nort Istanp : In woods from the Three Kings Islands and the North Cape to 
Cook Strait, but often local. Sourn Isnanp: Vicinity of Nelson, 7. Kirk; Banks 
Peninsula, Armstrong. 
Also in Norfolk Island, Australia, and New Caledonia. 
12. NEPHROLEPIS Schott. 
Rhizome short and indistinct, or long and creeping, sometimes emitting 
long wiry creeping and rooting stolons, from which new plants originate. 
Fronds long and narrow, coriaceous or submembranous, pinnate; pinnae 
jointed upon the rhachis, often deciduous, entire or crenate-serrate, upper 
surface frequently marked with white cretaceous dots. Veins free. Sori 
roundish, dorsal, placed on the tip of the upper branch of a vein, usually 
close to the margin. Indusium cordate or reniform or almost lunate, 
attached by a broad base. Sporangia stalked, surrounded by an incom- 
plete vertical ring, bursting transversely. 
A small genus of 7 or 8 species, widely distributed in the tropical regions of both 
hemispheres. The two New Zealand species have the range of the genus. 
Pinnae $-lin. long, oblong or linear-oblong, obliquely cordate 
at the base =. Ry is ar sr .. IL. WN. cordifolia. 
Pinnae 13-3 in. long, oblong-lanceolate, usually obliquely truncate 
at the base a - - ts = .. 2. N. exaltata, 
I. N. cordifolia .Presl Tent. Pterid. (1836) 79.—Rhizome short, sub- 
erect or oblique, emitting numerous long and wiry scaly stolons, which 
toot here and there and produce new plants, sometimes bearing small scaly 
tubers. Stipes short, 1-4 in. long, red-brown, glossy, more or less clothed 
with deciduous linear scales. Fronds numerous, tufted, 1-3 ft. long, 14-2 in. 
broad, linear-lanceolate, acuminate, pale-green, membranous, pinnate ; 
rhachis usually shaggy with linear flexuose scales. Pinnae very numerous, 
close-set, often imbricated, horizontal, 4-lin. long, 1-4 in. broad, oblong 
