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Manual of the New Zealand Flora.

1. Hymenophyllum, Linn

1. Hymenophyllum, Linn.

Usually small and sometimes minute ferns. Rhizome slender, creeping, often much branched and matted. Fronds simple or more generally compound, delicately membranous, often pellucid, usually of a single layer of cells; segments entire or toothed at the margin, page 929with a stout central costa. Sori marginal, terminal or lateral, more or less immersed in the frond or quite free, always terminating a vein or costa. Indusium cup-shaped, more or less deeply 2-lipped or 2-valved, sometimes to the base, of almost the same texture as the frond, margins of the lips entire or toothed or fringed. Receptacle linear or oblong, not exserted beyond the indusium. Sporangia sessile or nearly so, depressed, surrounded by a broad complete horizontal ring, bursting transversely.

One of the most beautiful of the genera of ferns, almost wholly confined to shaded localities, and remarkable for the filmy texture of the frond, a peculiarity which it shares with Trichomanes.Species about 90, widely distributed in tropical climates and in the south temperate zone, especially abundant in New Zealand, rare in the north temperate zone. Of the 20 species found in New Zealand, 7 or perhaps 8 are endemic, the remainder are for the most part widely dispersed.

A.Euhymenophyllum.Margin of the frond entire.

* Fronds glabrous; or, if hairs are present, they are confined to the stipes, rhachis, and oostæ.

† Rhachis winged throughout; wing often decurrent down the stipes, sometimes to the base.
Fronds 1–4 in., pendulous, flaccid, 2-pinnatifid. Stipes capillary; rhachis often wingless below. Sori large, terminal, immersed indusium orbicular 1. H. rarum.
Fronds 2–9 in., olive-green, 3-pinnatifid, sometimes with scattered hairs on the rhachis and stipes. Sori terminating short lateral segments, free indusium broadly ovate 2. H. polyanthos.
Fronds 2–6 in., brownish-green, 3–4-pinnatifid; segments narrow, crowded. Stipes, rhachis, and costæ usually villous. Sori numerous, terminal, free; indusium broadly ovate 3. H. villosum.
Fronds 3–9 in., triangular. Rhachis with a broad much-crisped wing decurrent almost to the base of the stipes. Sori terminal, free indusium orbicular 4. H. australe.
Fronds 2–3 in., linear-oblong, dull dark-green. Rhachis with a broad flat wing decurrent almost to the base of the stipes. Sori terminal, free indusium ovate, margins often jagged 5. H. atrovirens.
Rhizome short, bristly. Fronds 9–20 in., ovate-lanceolate, pale-green. Rhachis with a narrow flat wing de-current down the stipes. Sori terminal, free indusium orbicular 6. H. pulcherri-mum.
Rhizome long, glabrous. Fronds 9–20 in., ovate-lanceolate segments broad, flat. Rhachis with a narrow flat wing decurrent along the stipes. Sori terminal, immersed; indusium orbicular 7. H. dilatatum.
†† Rhachis winged only towards the top; lower part and stipes naked (often narrowly winged in H. demissum).
Fronds 4–12 in., ovate-deltoid, bright-green; stipes and rhachis glabrous. Sori terminal, free indusium ovate 30—Fl. 8. H. demissum,page 930
Fronds 6–20 in., ovate-lanceolate, brownish-green; stipes and rhachis bristly. Sori terminal; indusium orbicular 9. H. scabrum,
Fronds 3–9 in., pale glistening-green; lower pinnæ often flabellate. Stipes woolly at the base. Sori terminal, small; indusium broadly ovate or orbicular 10. H. flabellatum.
Fronds ½–1½ in., deltoid, very delicate. Stipes, rhachis, and costæ with silky flexuous hairs. Sori terminal, small, partly immersed indusium ovate-orbicular 11. H. rufescens.
**Fronds with the margins and both surfaces densely clothed with stellate hairs.
Fronds 2–6 in., oblong; rhachis broadly winged throughout, the wing decurrent along the upper part of the stipes. Sori terminal, immersed 12. H. ciliatum.
Fronds 2–10 in., oblong-lanceolate; rhachis winged only towards the top stipes naked. Sori terminal, immersed 13. H. subtilissimum.
Fronds 2–8 in., linear-oblong, rigid and coriaceous, everywhere hidden by dense tomentum; rhachis not winged. Sori terminal, free 14. H. Malingii.
B.Leptocionium.Margins of the frond spinulose-dentate.
Fronds minute,¼–1 in., simple or forked or digitately divided. Indusium with entire valves 15. H. Cheesemanii.
Fronds minute,¼-l in., simple or forked or digitately divided Indusium with entire valves
15.H. Cheesemanii. Fronds minute, ¼–1., in pinnatifid. Sori solitary, free, terminating the main rhachis; indusium with the valves spinulose on the back and margins 16. H. minimum.
Fronds 1–4 in., pinnate pinnæ divided. Sori lateral, near the base of the pinnæ, free indusium with the valves smooth on the back, spinulose-dentate on the margins 17. H. Tunbridgense.
Fronds 1–4 in., pinnate pinnæ divided. Sori lateral, near the base of the pinnæ, free indusium with the valves smooth on the back; margins entire 18. H. unilaterale.
Fronds 4–8 in., 3–4-pinnatifid. Sori lateral, near the base of the pinnæ, free; indusium large, often decurved, obo-void; valves with entire margins 19. H. multifidum.
Fronds 6–12 in., 3–4-pinnatifid. Sori terminal, immersed in the tips of the segments; indusium ovate-orbicular, valves with entire margins 20. H. bivalve.
1. H. rarum,R. Br. Prodr. 159.—A very delicate pale glistening-green pellucid species, forming matted patches on the trunks of trees or on rocks. Rhizomes creeping, much branched, very slender, wiry, black. Fronds very variable in size and shape, usually from 1 to 4 in. long, but sometimes dwarfed to ½ in., and occasionally lengthened out to 6 or 8 in., broadly oblong to linear-oblong, 2-pinnatifid, in large specimens pinnate at the base, pendulous, membranous, flaccid, quite glabrous. Stipes extremely slender, capillary, often half the length of the whole frond main rhachis usually winged throughout. Pinnæ close, often overlapping, once or twice forked or pinnatifid, rarely simple. Segments erecto-patent, ¼–½ in. long,; 1/10 in. broad, flat, obtuse, quite entire. Sori mostly near the summit of the frond, sunk in the tips of the segments. Indusium large, almost as broad as the segments, page 931broadly rhomboid, divided half-way down, cuneate at the base; valves broad, rounded.—Hook. Sp. Fil. i. 101 Hook. f. Fl. Antarct. i. 105 Fl. Nov. Zel. ii. 12; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 353 Hook, and Bak. Syn. Fil. 58 Benth. Fl. Austral. vii. 705 Thoms. N.Z. Ferns, 38. H. semibivalve, Hook, and Grev. Ic. Fil. t. 83; A. Rich. Fl. Nouv. Zel. 94; A. Cunn. Precur.n. 241; Raoul, Choix, 39.H. imbricatum, Col. in Tasm. Journ. Nat. Sci.(1845) 27.

North and South Islands, Stewart Island, Chatham Islands, Auckland Islands From Mongonui and Kaitaia southwards, not uncommon. Sea-level to 3000 ft.

A widely distributed plant, found in Australia and Tasmania, Polynesia, Japan, South Africa and Mauritius, and extratropical South America. It is easily recognised by the extremely slender capillary stipes, pendulous pale glaucous-green fronds, broad flat entire segments, and large orbicular sori. When growing in exposed places it is often much dwarfed, with closely imbricating pinnæ, constituting Colenso's H. imbricatum.

2.

H. polyanthos,Swartz, Syn. Fil. 149 var. sanguinolentuni Hook. Sp. Fil. i. 107.—Forming matted patches on the trunks or branches of trees or on rotten logs. Rhizome rather stout, creeping, much branched, usually bristly with reddish-brown hairs. Fronds erect or decurved, somewhat opaque, dull olive-green, reddish-brown when dry, 2–9 in. high, broadly ovate or oblong, 3-pinnatifid, glabrous or the stipes, and rhachis with scattered red-brown hairs when young. Stipes rather stout, narrowly winged above; rhachis broadly winged throughout, stout, flexuose. Primary pinnæ close or rather distant, spreading, rarely decurved secondary short, deeply pinnatifid. Segments narrow-linear, obtuse, flat or the margins undulate. Sori mainly in the upper part of the frond, usually terminating short somewhat contracted lateral segments, quite free or very slightly sunk at the base. Indusium broader than the segment, broadly ovate or suborbicular, 2-valved to the base; valves obtuse, entire or slightly sinuate, often crested on the back.—Hook. f, Fl. Nov. Zel. ii. 14;Handb. N.Z. Fl 354 Hook, and Bak. Syn. Fil. 60; Thoms. N.Z. Ferns, 38 Field, N.Z. Ferns, 58, t. 28, f. 7. H. sanguinolentum, Swartz, Syn. Fil. 148, 376; A. Bich. Fl. Nouv. Zel. 93 A. Cunn. Freezer, n. 234; Raoul, Choix, 38. H. lophocarpum, Col. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xvii. (1885) 255.Trichomanes sanguinolentum, Forst. Prodr. n. 465.

North and South Islands, Stewart Island, Auckland Islands: Abundant in forests throughout. Sea-level to 3000 ft.

One of the most abundant species of the genus in New Zealand, It stains paper brown when drying, and gives off a peculiar odour, which it often retains for years. The species, in some of its forms, is found in almost all tropical countries, but apparently not in Australia.

3. H. villosum,Col. in Tasm. Journ. Nat. Sc.(1845) 25.—Forming dense matted patches on the trunks of trees or amongst moss. Rhizome much branched, wiry, creeping. Fronds erect or page 932decurved, opaque, dull brownish-green, 2–6 in. long, 1–2½ in. broad, broadly ovate to ovate - lanceolate, acuminate, 3–4-pinnatifid. Stipes 1–3 in. long, usually narrowly winged above, villous with scattered spreading hairs; rhachis narrowly winged throughout, rather slender, flexuous, more or less villous, as are the partial rhachides and costæ. Primary pinnæ closely placed, often overlapping, lanceolate-deltoid secondary rhombic-ovate, again once or twice pinnatifid. Ultimate segments crowded, very narrow, linear, obtuse, flat. Sori numerous, terminating the segments, free. In-dusium broadly ovate, obtuse or subacute, broader than the segments, 2-valved to the base valves smooth, entire.—Kirk in Trans. N.Z. Inst. x. (1878) 395; Bak, in Annals Bot. v. (1890–91) 192; Thoms. N.Z. Ferns, 39.

North Island: Auckland—Summit of Moehau (Cape Colville), Adams!Te Aroha Mountain, T. F. C.;Tarawera Mountain, Kirk; Ruatahuna, Colenso!Hawke's Bay—Tukituki River, A. Hamilton! R uahine Mountains, H. Hill!Wellington—Tararua Rauge, H. H. Travers! South Island Not uncommon in subalpine forests throughout. Stewart Island Mount Anglem, Kirk.Auckland Islands: Kirk.Usually from 2000–4500 ft., but descends almost to sea-level in Westland.

This was placed with H. polyanthos by Hooker, and is doubtless closely allied to it. But it differs markedly in the much more finely cut 4-pinnatifid f[gap — reason: illegible]onds, in the villous stipes, rhachis, &c, in the much narrower segments, and in the smaller sori.

4.H. australe, Willd. Sp. Plant, v. 527.—Forming matted patches on rocks or among moss, more rarely on the trunks of trees, pale-green when young, becoming lurid-green in age. Rhizome creeping, branched, wiry. Fronds erect or decurved, very membranous, 3–9 in. long, 1½—4 in. broad, triangular with usually a broad base, acuminate, quite glabrous, 2–3-pinnatifid. Rhachis with a broad much-crisped wing which extends almost to the base of the stipes. Primary pinnæ ¾–2 in. long, rhomboidal-lanceolate, spreading, often decurved at the tips, deeply pinnatifid secondary again pinnatifid or irregularly forked. Ultimate segments narrow-linear, obtuse, quite entire, more or less crisped, rarely flat. Sori usually numerous, terminal on the segments, free. Indusium orbicular or broadly ovate, usually broader than the segments, 2-valved to the base; valves broad, rounded, entire or slightly erose.—Bak. Annals Bot. v. (1890–91) 193. H. javanicum, Spreng. Syst. iv. 132 Hook, and Bak. Syn. Fil. 60 Thoms. N.Z. Ferns, 39 Field, N.Z. Ferns, 61, t. 15, f. 4. H. crispatum, Wall. Cat. 169 Hook. Sp. Fil. i. 105 Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. ii. 13 Handb. N.Z. Fl. 354.H. flexuosum, A. Cunn. Precur. n. 238 Raoul, Choix, 39.

North and South Islands, Stewart Island Not uncommon in damp woods. Sea-level to 2000 ft.

A common plant in Tasmania, and from thence extending northwards to Malaya, India, and Ceylon. It is easily distinguished from the other New Zealand species by the broad conspicuously crisped wing of the rhachis and stipes.

page 933
5.H. atrovirens,Col. in Tasm. Journ. Nat. Sc.(1845) 26.—Usually terrestrial. Rhizome slender, wiry, creeping. Fronds few, somewhat rigidly erect, membranous, dull dark-green, 2–6 in. high, ½- 1 in. broad, linear-oblong or lanceolate, quite glabrous, 2-pimiatifid. Stipes about half the length of the frond, winged almost to the base; rhachis flexuose, winged throughout, wings flat, not crisped. Pinnæ 5–10 on each side, alternate, the lowest usually the largest, ⅓–⅔ in. long, erecto-patent, irregularly pinnatifid. Segments simple or forked, linear, obtuse, fiat, quite entire. Sori few, terminating the segments, quite free. Indusium small, ovate, 2-valved almost to the base, slightly broader than the segments valves obtuse or subacute, entire or jagged.—H. javanicum var. atrovirens, Hook, and Bak. Syn. Fil. 60. H. montanum, Kirk in Trans. N.Z. Inst. x. (1878) 394 Thoms. N.Z. Ferns, 40 Field, N.Z. Ferns, 61, t. 28, f. 1.

North Island: Auckland—Bay of Islands, Miss Clarke! Whangarei, T. F. C.; ravines at Mamaku, near Rotorua, J. Stewart!Lake Waikaremoana, Colenso!South Island: Nelson—Blind Bay, Kingsley.Otago—Mountains at the head of Lake Wakatipu, Mrs. Mason!Sea-level to 2500 ft.

I have ventured to restore Mr. Colenso's H. atrovirens to the rank of a species, for although undoubtedly very close to A. australe it appears to differ sufficiently in the much smaller and narrower more sparingly divided frond, in the flat (not crisped) wings to the rhachis and stipes, and in the narrower segments and smaller ovate indusia. Mr. Kirk's H. montanum is clearly the same plant, with the indusia conspicuously jagged. Whether the Australian plant included under atrovirens by Baker is also identical I am unable to say, not having seen specimens.

6.H. pulcherrimum,Col. in Tasmanian Journ. Nat. Sci.(1845) 25.—Forming dense tufts on the branches and trunks of trees. Rhizome short, stout, densely clothed with shining red-brown bristly scales rootlets woolly. Fronds very handsome, pale-green, erect or pendulous, 9–30 in. long including the stipes, 2–6 in. broad, ovate-lanceolate or linear-oblong, acuminate, membranous, flaccid, quite glabrous, 3–4-pinnatifid. Stipes 2–6 in. long, winged to the base; rhachis also with a narrow wing throughout its length, wings not crisped. Primary pinnæ 1–½–3 in. long, rhomboidal-lanceolate, 2-pinnatifid down to a narrowly winged flexuous rhachis. Ultimate segments simple or forked, linear, flat, obtuse or retuse, quite entire. Sori terminating short lateral segments, sometimes apparently axillary, quite free. Indusium orbicular, 2-valved to the base; valves convex, quite entire.—Hook. Sp. Fil. i. 103, t. 37a Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. ii. 13, t. 74; Handb. N.Z. Fl 354; Hook, and Bak. Syn. Fil. 62; Thoms. N.Z. Ferns, 41; Field, N.Z. Ferns, 60, t. 20, f. 6.

North Island: Mountainous forests of the interior, from Te Aroha and Lake Waikaremoana southwards. South Island Rare and local in Nelson, Marlborough, and Canterbury; abundant in Westland and Otago. Stewart Island Paterson's Inlet, Kirk!Sea-level to 3000 ft, A very distinct species, confined to New Zealand.

page 934
7.H. dilatatum,Swartz, Syn. Fil. 149, 373.—Large, very handsome, bright-green, clothing the trunks of trees or rotten logs. Rhizome long, stout, wiry, glabrous. Fronds variable in size, usually 9–18 in. long including the stipes, but luxuriant specimens often reach 2 ft. or more, the smaller specimens erect or decurved, the larger usually pendulous, 3–6 in. broad, ovate or ovate-lanceolate to linear-oblong, membranous, 3-pinnatifid. Stipes 2–6 in. long, terete, wiry, narrowly winged almost to the base; rhachis winged throughout, the wing flat, not crisped. Primary pinnæ 1½—3 in. long, ovate-lanceolate, cuneate at the base; secondary broad, almost subpalmate below, irregularly pinnatifid. Ultimate segments linear, often elongated and decurved, about 1/10 in. broad, obtuse, flat, quite entire. Sori numerous, terminating the segments, sunk in the frond at the base. Indusium orbicular, cuneate at the base, 2-valved more than half-way down valves convex, rounded at the tip, entire clusters of sporangia often exserted.—Hook, and Grev. Ic. Fil. t. 60 A. Cunn. Precur. n. 233 Raoul, Choix, 38 Hook. Sp. Fil. i. 104 Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. ii. 13; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 354; Hook, and Bak. Syn. Fil. 62; Thoms. N.Z. Ferns, 40; Field, N.Z. Ferns, 59, t. 16, f. 1. Tri-chomanes dilatatum, Forst. Prodr. n. 467.

North and South Islands, Stewart Island, Chatham Islands Abundant in damp woods throughout. Auckland Islands Sir J. D. Hooker(Handbook).Sea-level to 3000 ft.

Also in several of the Polynesian islands and in Java. One of the most handsome species of the genus.

8.H. demissum, Swartz, Syn. Fil. 147, 374.—Terrestrial or epiphytic, forming large patches. Rhizome long, wiry, creeping. Fronds erect or decurved, membranous, bright pale-green, 4–16 in. long including the stipes, 2–5 in. broad, ovate-deltoid or ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, 3–4-pinnatifid. Stipes 2–6 in. long, terete, smooth and glabrous, wiry, not winged above or very obscurely so rhachis obviously winged in the upper part, but the wing much nar rowed and sometimes obsolete below. Primary pinnæ spreading or ascending, rhombic-lanceolate or rhombic-triangular; secondary short, broad, again 1–2-pinnatifid. Ultimate segments 1/10–⅕ in-long, 1/20 in. broad, linear, obtuse, flat, quite entire. Sori small, very numerous at the tips of the segments, not confined to the lateral ones, not sunk in the frond. Indusium ovate, obtuse or subacute, 2-valved to the base valves entire or lobed.—A. Rich. Fl. Nouv. Zel. 92 A. Cunn. Precur. n. 245 Raoul, Choix, 39; Hook. Sp. Fil. i. 109; Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. ii. 14; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 354 Hook, and Bak. Syn. Fil. 61; Thoms. N.Z. Ferns, 41; Field, N.Z. Ferns, 58, t. 18, f. 1. H. erecto-alatum, Col. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xi. (1879) 431. H. megalocarpum, Col. l.c. xv. (1883) 318. H. polychilum, Col. l.c. xxiv. (1892) 395. Trichomanes demissum, Forst. Prodr. n. 468. page 935

Kermadec Islands, North and South Islands, Chatham Islands, Stewart Island, Auckland Islands Abundant in woods throughout. Sea-level to 3000 ft.

Also found in Polynesia, Java, and the Philippine Islands. The veinlets often fork towards the tips of the segments, and in profusely fruited specimens there is usually a sorus at the tip of each veinlet. When the fork of the veinlet is very close to the tip of the segment the two sori are often included in a single indusium, the valves of which, however, are more or less cleft at the apex. All gradations can be traced between two indusia placed side by side, and a single indusium containing 2 receptacles. Mr. Colenso's H. megalocarpum and H. polychilum, named specimens of which appear to me to be identical, are founded mainly on this peculiarity, and show no other differences. His H. erecto-alatum was separated on account of the broader crisped wing of the rhachis, but the type specimens prove this character to be a very obscure and uncertain one.

9.H. scabrum, A. Rich. Fl. Nouv. Zel. 90, t. 14, f. 1.—Usually clothing the trunks of trees, rarely terrestrial. Rhizome long, creeping, wiry, more or less bristly with reddish-brown scales. Fronds very variable in size, usually from 6 in. to 20 in. long, but luxuriant specimens sometimes attain 30 in., 2–5 in. broad, ovate-deltoid or ovate-lanceolate or linear-oblong, acuminate, membranous, dark olive-green or olive-brown, erect or pendulous, 3–4-pinnatifid. Stipes 2–6 in. long, not winged, more or less densely clothed (as are the primary and secondary rhachides and costæ) with reddish-brown jointed hairs; rhachis winged above, wingless below. Primary pinnæ 1–3 in. long, close or rather distant, spreading or erecto-patent, rhomboidal-lanceolate or-oblong, acuminate; secondary deeply pinnatifid or 2-pinnatifid. Ultimate segments linear, obtuse, flat, quite entire. Sori numerous, terminal on the lateral segments on both sides of the pinna. Indusium rather small, orbicular or ovate-orbicular, 2-valved to the base valves usually toothed.—A. Cunn. Precur. n. 235 Raoul, Choix, 39 Hook. Sp. Fil. i. 110; Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel, ii. 15 Handb. N.Z. Fl. 355; Hook, and Bak. Syn. Fil. 61; Thoms. N.Z. Ferns, 42; Field, N.Z. Ferns, 62, t. 17, f. 4. Sphærocionium glanduliferum, Presl. Epimel.23, t. 12.

North and South Islands, Chatham Islands Moist forests from Hokianga southwards, not uncommon. Sea-level to 3000 ft.

A distinct and beautiful species, easily recognised by the reddish hairs on the stipes, rhachis, and costæ, and by the dark colour of the frond. It is confined to New Zealand.

10.H. flabellatum, Lab. Pl. Nov. Holl. ii. 101, t. 250.—Densely matted, usually clothing the trunks of trees. Rhizomes long, wiry, creeping, often much branched and interlaced, more or less clothed with yellow-brown woolly hairs. Fronds very variable in size and shape, usually 3–9 in. long, but sometimes reduced to less than l in., at other times attaining a length of 12 in., the smaller specimens generally ovate and erect, the longer ovate-lanceolate to lanceolate or linear-oblong and pendulous, pale shining - green or page 936yellow-green, membranous, glabrous or sparingly silky along the rhachis and sometimes on the margins, 2–3-pinnatifid. Stipes-slender, terete, wingless, glabrous except a tuft of silky hairs at the base; main rhachis winged towards the top, wingless elsewhere. Primary pinnse often close and overlapping, short, rhomboidal-ovate or flabellate, acuminate; secondary cuneate at the base, deeply pinnatifid. Ultimate segments linear, flat, entire. Sori small, terminal on the segments, usually on the lateral ones, slightly immersed at the base. Indusium orbicular or nearly so, 2-valved to below the middle valves usually entire.—Hook. Sp. Fil. i. 111; Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. ii. 15; Handb. N.Z. Fl 355; Hook, and Bak. Syn. Fil. 61; Benth. Fl. Austral. vii. 705; Thoms. N.Z. Ferns, 42 Field, N.Z. Ferns, 57, t. 19, f. 6. H. nitens, R. Br. Prodr. 159 A. Rich. Fl. Nouv. Zel. 94; A. Cunn. Precur. n. 236; Raoul, Choix, 39.

North and South Islands, Stewart Island, Chatham Islands, Auckland Islands Not uncommon in woods throughout. Sea-level to 2500 ft.

Also in Tasmania and south-eastern Australia, and reported from Sumatra and the Philippine Islands. Some varieties approach very closely to narrow-fronded forms of H. demissum, but in its ordinary state it cannot be easily confounded with any other.

11.H. rufescens,T. Kirk in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xi. (1879) 457,. t. 19A.—Very delicate, forming mats, on the trunks of trees or on the perpendicular faces of shaded rocks. Rhizome very slender, almost filiform, branched, creeping, sparingly clothed with soft spreading hairs. Stipes much longer than the frond proper, 1–2 in., capillary, wingless, clothed when young with long flexuous hairs. Fronds ½–1½ in. long, ½—¾ in. broad at the base, deltoid, delicately membranous and pellucid, 2-pinnatifid rhachis winged almost to the base, and with the veins and occasionally the surfaces of the frond more or less covered with long flexuous silky hairs. Pinnæ 3–4 pairs, close, overlapping, cuneate-rhomboid or the lowest almost flabellate, deeply pinnatifid or lobed. Segments linear, obtuse, flat, quite entire. Sori terminating the segments, slightly immersed at the base. Indusium ovate-orbicular, 2-valved to the base; valves entire or slightly toothed, often ciliate.—Bak. in Annals of Bot. v. (1890–91) 192 Thorns. N.Z. Ferns, 43; Field, N.Z. Ferns, 63, t.15, f. 6.

North Island Summit of Te Aroha Mountain, Adams! T. F. C.;Oroua River (Ruahine Range), H. C. Field!Mount Egmont Ranges, T. F. C.South Island: Nelson —Mount Arthur Plateau, T. F. C.;Takaka Valley, Kingsley;.Mount Rochfort, Rev. F. J. Spencer!Westland—Okarito, A. Hamilton!Stewart Island Rakiahua, A. Hamilton, P. Goyen. 1000–3500 ft.

Nearest to H. flabellatum, some mountain forms of which approach it very closely, but separated by the much longer capillary stipes, shorter, broader, and more delicate fronds, and by the copious hairs. H. subtilissimum differs in the larger size, the shape of the frond, and in the stellate tomentum.

page 937
12.H. ciliatum,Swartz, Syn. Fil. 147.— Usually epiphytical. Rhizome slender, creeping, 1–2 in. long. Fronds 2–6 in. long, 1–2 in. broad, ovate-oblong, acuminate, thin and membranous, 2–3-pinnatifid, more or less clothed with stalked branched or stellate hairs, which are most abundant on the margins. Stipes 1–2 in. long, winged above and ciliated; rhachis broadly winged throughout and also conspicuously ciliated with stellate hairs. Primary pinnæ oblong or rhomboidal, cut down to a broad central portion into numerous secondary divisions, which are simple or forked or irregularly pinnatifid Ultimate segments linear, flat, obtuse, quite entire. Sori numerous, terminating the segments, more or less immersed. Indusium suborbicular, 2-valved half-way down; valves ciliated.—Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 747; Hook, and Bak. Syn. Fil. 63; Thomson, N.Z. Ferns, 43; Field, N.Z. Ferns, 64. H. Boryanum, Willd. Sp. Plant, v. 518; Hook. Sp. Fil. i. 89, t.31c.

South Island: Nelson— Travers(Handbook).

An abundant plant throughout the whole of tropical America, from Cuba and Mexico to Chili; also in tropical Africa, Madagascar, and Mauritius. I have seen no New Zealand specimens, the plant not having been refound since its original discovery by Mr. Travers nearly forty years ago.

13.H. subatilissimum, Kunze, Anal. Pteridog. 50.—Forming dense mats on the stems of fern-trees and on tree-trunks, or on the perpendicular faces of shaded rocks. Rhizome long, slender, fili form, tomentose with reddish-brown hairs. Fronds 2–10 in. long, ¾–2 in. broad, ovate-lanceolate or lanceolate, acute or acuminate, very thin and membranous, yellow-brown or tawny, usually pen dulous, 2–3-pinnatifid, everywhere clothed with copious silky stellate hairs. Stipes filiform, not winged; rhachis narrowly winged above, wingless below. Primary pinnæ short, erectopatent, ovate-lanceolate, cuneate at the base; secondary irregularly pinnatifid or forked. Ultimate segments close, linear, obtuse, flat, quite entire. Sori numerous, small, terminal, sunk in the tips of the lateral segments. Indusium orbicular or broader than long, 2-vaived almost to the base; valves rounded, copiously ciliated with stellate hairs.—Hook, and Baker Syn. Fil. 64 Field, N.Z. Ferns, 63, t. 15, f. 2. H. æruginosum, Hook. Sp. Fil. i. 94; Hook, f. Fl. Nov. Zel. ii. 15 Handb. N.Z. Fl. 355. H. Franklinianum, Col. in Tasmanian Journ. Nat. Sci.(1845) 23.

North and South Islands, Stewart Island Damp forests from the Bay of Islands southwards, not uncommon, except on the east coast of the South Island, where it is rare and local. Sea-level to 2500 ft.

Also on the Island of Juan Fernandez and in Chili, and closely allied to the Tristan d'Acunha H. œuginosum,Carm., with which it was united by Sir J. D. Hooker.

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14.H. Malingii, Metten. ex Hook, and Bak. Syn. Fil. 66.—Forming small patches on the trunks and branches of trees. Rhizome slender, creeping, sparsely clothed with reddish-brown hairs. Fronds 2–8 in. long, ½–1½ in. broad, narrow-oblong to linear, erect or pendulous, opaque, rigid, reddish-brown or greyish-brown, everywhere most densely covered with stellate hairs mixed with very minute close-set clavate papillæ, 2–3-pinnatifid. Stipes 1–3 in. long, very slender, almost filiform, not winged, densely tomentose. Pinnæ close or distant, ⅓–⅔ in. long, rarely more, the lower ones ovate-rhomboidal, the upper oblong, deeply pinnatifid secondary divisions cuneate or flabellate, deeply pinnatifidly cut. Ultimate segments very narrow-linear, obtuse, almost terete and coriaceous from rhe dense coating of tomentum, which entirely conceals the frond proper. Sori small, terminating the segments. Indusium hidden by the tomentum, orbicular, 2-valved rather more than half-way down; valves denticulate at the apes.—Thoms. N.Z. Ferns, 44; Field, N.Z. Ferns, 67, t. 7, f. 2. Trichomanes Malingii, Hook. Garden Ferns, t. 64; Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 357.

North Island Summit of Te Aroha Mountain, Adams! T. F. C.;Mount Egmont, Mrs. Jones, T. F. C.;Ruahine Mountains and base of Ruapehu, H. C. Field.South Island: Nelson—Mountains behind Massacre Bay, Moling;Takaka, Kingsley.Westland—Mountains near Greymouth, Enys! near Kurnara, J. M. Brarne!Franz Josef Glacier, Haast.Canterbury — Banks Peninsula, T. E. Potts!Otago—Mount Cargill, Pine Hill, Buchanan! Thomson! 500–3500 ft.

A most curious and remarkable little plant, confined to New Zealand. The peculiar indumentum of the frond is well worth careful examination.

15.H. Cheesemanii,Bak. ex Hook, and Bak. Syn. Fil.(edit. 2) 464.—Minute, forming cushions on the branches of trees, or creeping amongst mosses and hepaticæ. Rhizome branched, wide-creeping, smooth and wiry. Fronds very small, ¼–1 in. long, simple or forked or digitately 3–5-fid, quite glabrous, dark-green, texture firm. Stipes very short, filiform, ⅛–¼ in. long. Segments about 1/10 in. broad, linear-oblong or ligulate, obtuse, with a single stout dark-coloured costa in each; margins not usually conspicuously thickened, strongly ciliate-dentate; teeth ascending, dark-brown or black, sometimes caducous. Sori 1–3 to a frond, terminating the segments. Indusium slightly sunk in the frond at the base orbicular-oblong, dark brownish-black, of a more compact texture than the frond, 2-valved nearly to the base valves smooth, convex, quite entire, recurved in age.—Ic. Plant. t.1132 Cheesem. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. viii. (1876) 329; Thoms.N.Z. Ferns, 36; Field, N.Z. Ferns, 65, t. 5, f. 3.

Var. Armstrongii.—Precisely similar in size and habit, but texture firmer and margins strongly thickened.—H. Armstrongii, Kirk in Trans. N.Z. Inst. x. (1878) App. 43, t. 21a; Bak. Ic. Plant, t. 1614. H. melanocheilos, Col. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xvii. (1885) 255. Trichomanes Armstrongii, Bak. ex Hook, and Bak. Syn. Fil.(edit. 2) 465.

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North Island Auckland—Whangaroa, R. W. Rowson!Great Barrier Island, Kirk!Whangarei, Coromandel, Thames, Titirangi, Hunua, T. F. C.;Te Aroha Mountain, Adams!South Island Nelson—Mokihinui, Kirk!Canterbury — Upper Waimakariri, Arthur's Pass, Armstrong! Enys! Kirk! T. F. C.Westland—Hokitika, Kirk;Kumara, J. M. Brame;Okarito, A. Hamilton!Stewart Island Ruggedy Mountains, Kirk.Sea-level to 3500 ft.

A peculiar little species, usually found among moss on the upper branches of forest-trees, or on the perpendicular faces of rocks. I am unable to maintain H. Armstrongii as a separate species, for the stout marginal nerve, which is supposed to separate it from H. Cheesemanii, is an inconstant character, and fronds may be picked from the same rhizome with or without it. Usually, however, epiphytic specimens want the nerve, and rupestral ones possess it.

16.H. minimum, A. Rich. Fl. Nouv. Zel. 91, t 14, f. 2.—Minute, forming matted patches on rocks or on the trunks of trees. Rhizome much branched, filiform, wide-creeping, glabrous or sparingly bristly. Stipes wiry, filiform, naked, ⅙–½ in. long. Fronds very small, ¼–¾ in. long, broadly oblong-deltoid or ovate, erect or recurved, firm, pale-green when fresh, often reddish-brown when dry, pinnatifid or pinnate at the base. Segments 2–6 pairs, close, spreading, simple or the lower ones forked, linear, obtuse, more or less concave, rigid, quite glabrous; margins spinulose-dentate. Sori never more than one to a frond, terminating the main rhachis, stipitate, quite free. Indusium rather large, obovate-cuneate, narrowed at the base, 2-valved to the middle valves spinulose on the back; margins rounded, sharply spinulose-dentate. Receptacle stout, often exserted in age.—A. Cunn. Precur, n. 242; Raoul, Choix, 39; Hook. f. Fl. Antarct. i. 103; Fl. Nov. Zel. ii. 12; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 353; Hook, and Bak. Syn. Fit.(edit. 2) 464; Thoms. N.Z. Ferns, 36.

South Island: Nelson—Tasman Bay, D' Urville.Westland—Coast near Okarito, A. Hamilton!Otago — Resolution Island, Enys!East Coast, Buchanan! A. Hamilton.'Stewart Island Not uncommon, Kirk!Auckland Islands Scarce, Sir J. D. Hooker.

A much misunderstood species; most collectors confusing it with small forms of H. Tunbridgense, from which, however, it is readily distinguished by the uniformly solitary and terminal sori, the indusium of which is spinulose on the back as well as on the margins. It appears to be a littoral plant, never found far from the sea.

17.H. Tunbridgense, Smith, Fl. Brit. 1141.—Forming broad densely matted moss-like patches on rocks or on the trunks of trees. Rhizome much branched, long, wiry, creeping. Fronds variable in size, ½—3 in. long, ½ 1 in. broad, oblong or linear-oblong, pale-green, membranous, pinnate below, pinnatifid above. Stipes ½–1½ in. long, slender, wiry, naked rhachis winged above, wingless below, or sometimes the wing is decurrent almost to the lowest pinna. Pinnæ spreading, close or rather remote, usually flabellately pinnatifid. Segments 3–12 to a pinna, linear, obtuse, flat, conspicuously spinulose-dentate. Sori terminal on a short lateral seg-page 940ment near the base of the pinnsæ on their upper margin and hence supra-axillary, rarely more than one to a pinna. Indusium sub-orbicular, compressed, its base slightly immersed in the segment, deeply 2-valved; valves thin, smooth on the back; margins conspicuously spinulose-dentate.—A. Rich. Fl. Nouv. Zel. 91; A. Cunn. Precur. n. 243; Raoul, Choix, 39; Hook. Sp. Fil. i. 95; Hook, f. Fl. Nov. Zel. ii. 11; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 352 Hook, and Bak. Syn. Fil. 67 Thoms. N.Z. Ferns, 35; Field. N.Z. Ferns, 65, t. 14, f. 7. H. pusillum, Col. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xii. (1880) 365; (?)H. pyg-mæum, Col. l.c. xiii. (1881) 376.H. zeelandicum, Van der Bosch.

Var. cupressiforme, Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. ii. 11.—Fronds taller and narrower, more erect, 1–4 in. high. Pinnæ distant; segments more rigid, narrower, often decurved. Sori free, almost stipitate.—H. cupressiforme, Labill. Pl. Nov. Holl. ii. 102, t. 250. H. revolutum, Col. in Tasmanian Journ. Nat. Sci.(1845) 26.

North and South Islands, Stewart Island, Auckland Islands. Abundant throughout. Sea-level to 3000 ft.

An abundant plant in most temperate and subtropical countries, and everywhere highly variable. Var. cupressiforme has much of the habit of the next species, but the valves of the indusium are spinulose-dentate.

18.H. unilaterale, Willd. Sp. Plant, v. 521.—Forming large patches on the ground among moss or on the roots of trees. Rhizome long, creeping, branched. Fronds 1–4 in. long, linear-oblong, dark-green, rigidly membranous, pinnate below, pinnatifid above. Stipes ½–1½ in. long, slender, wiry, naked; rhachis winged in the upper portion only. Pinnæ narrower and more rigid than in H. Tunbridgense, often pinnatifid on the upper side alone. Seg ments fewer and narrower, frequently decurved, usually involute, margins conspicuously spinulose-dentate. Sori terminal on short lateral segments near the base of the pinnæ on their upper margin, exactly as in H. Tunbridgense.Indusium obovate-oblong or broadly oblong, turgid, slightly immersed at the base, deeply 2-valved valves smooth; margins quite entire.—Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. ii. 11; Fl. Tasm. ii. 134; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 353. H. Wilsoni, Hook. Brit. Fl.(edit. 1) 450; Sp. Fil. i. 95. H. Tunbridgense, var.Wilsoni, Hook, and Bak. Syn. Fil. 67.

North and South Islands, Stewart Island From Te Aroha Mountain southwards, not common, chiefly in mountain forests. Sea-level to 3500 ft.

Very closely allied to H. Tunbridgense, and sometimes hardly to be distinguished from it in the absence of fruit, but usually the frond is taller and narrower and more rigid, the pinnæ are sparingly divided and decurved, the segments often unilateral, and the indusia narrower and more turgid, with the margins of the valves quite entire. Its geographical range is nearly the same as that of Fl. Tunbridgense, but it is a much less abundant plant.

19.H. multifidum,Swartz, Syn. Fil. 149, 378.—Forming matted patches upon the ground or on the trunks or branches of trees. Rhizome much branched, creeping, wiry. Fronds variable page 941in size, usually 4–8 in. high including the stipes, but sometimes dwarfed to l in., and occasionally attaining 12 in., ovate-lanceolate to oblong-ovate or deltoid, acute or acuminate, erect or decurved or even pendulous, dark olive-green to light-green, membranous, 3–4-pinnatifid. Stipes 1–5 in. long, terete, wiry, naked; rhachis narrowly winged above. Primary pinnæ close and often overlapping in terrestrial specimens, more remote in those growing on trees, rhomboidal-lanceolate, cut down to a rather broadly winged rhachis into numerous secondary divisions, which are again pinnatifid or 2-pinnatifid. Ultimate segments linear, rigid, obtuse, deeply spinulose-dentate. Sori few, large, mostly in the upper part of the frond, terminating very short lateral segments, often appearing quite axillary, free. Indusium erect or decurved, obovoid, tubular below, 2-valved to the middle; valves entire or denticulate.—A. Cunn. Precur. n. 240; Raoul, Choix, 39; Hook, and Grev. Ic. Fil. t. 167 Hook. Sp. Fil. i. 98; Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. ii. 12; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 353; Hook, and Bak. Syn. Fil. 69; Thoms. N.Z. Ferns, 37 Field, N.Z. Ferns, 66, t. 19, f. 8. H. truncatum, Col. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxiii. (1891) 390. H. alpinum, Col. l.c. xxxi. (1899) 263. H. oligocarpum, Col. l.c. xxxi. (1899) 264. Trichomanes multifidum, Forst. Prodr. n. 473.

North and South Islands, Stewart Island, Chatham Islands, Auckland and Campbell Islands, Antipodes Island Abundant throughout. Sea-level to 4000 ft.

Varying greatly in size and habit, but always easily recognised by the very peculiar indusium. It is also found in Fiji and others of the Pacific islands.

20.H. bivalve,Swartz, Syn. Fil. 146, 372.—Forming large matted patches on the ground among moss, more rarely epiphytical. Rhizome stout, wiry, creeping; rootlets densely villous. Fronds (including the stipes) usually from 6–9 in. high, 2–4 in. broad, but luxuriant specimens reach 12–14 in., with a breadth of 6 in., broadly ovate or deltoid, acuminate, rather rigid, often de-curved, 3–4-pinnatifid. Stipes 2–5 in. long, terete, wiry, glabrous, not winged rhachis narrowly winged above. Primary pinnæ triangular or ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, cut down almost to the rhachis into rhomboidal-lanceolate secondary divisions, which are again pinnatifid or 2-pinnatifid. Ultimate segments narrow-linear, obtuse, deeply spinulose-dentate. Sori usually numerous, terminal on the segments, immersed at the base. Indusium ovate or ovate-orbicular, cuneate below, 2-valved nearly to the base valves quite entire.—A. Rich. Fl. Nouv. Zel. 93 A. Cunn. Precur. n. 244 Raoul, Choix, 39; Hook. Sp. Fil. i. 98, t. 35d; Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. ii. 12 Handb. N.Z. Fl. 353 Hook, and Bak. Syn. Fil. 69; Thomson, N.Z. Ferns, 37 Field, N.Z. Ferns, 67, t. 17, f. 3. H. spathulatum, Col. in Tasmanian Journ. Nat. Sci.(1845) 24. Trichomanes bivalve, Forst. Prodr. n. 466. page 942

North Island Hilly forests from the Great Barrier Island (C. P. Winkel-mann!) and Cape Colville southwards, not common to the north of the East Cape. South Island, Stewart Island, Chatham Islands Not uncommon throughout. Sea-level to 3000 ft.

Confined to New Zealand. Allied to H. multifidum, but a larger and less rigid plant, of a paler-green colour, and with smaller indusia immersed in the tips of the segments, not axillary.