1. L. Cunninghamii, R. Br. ex A. Cunn. Precur. n. 215, t. 31, 32.—Rhizome long, stout, tortuous, densely clothed with linear red-brown hairs. Stipes 1–2 ft. high, erect, pale-brown, glabrous, smooth and polished. Fronds 9–24 in. long, 6–12 in. broad, broadly triangular, coriaceous, dark-green above, glaucous-white or pale-green beneath; rhachis polished, channelled. Primary pinnæ rather distant, ascending, the upper alternate, the lowermost opposite; secondary ovate-lanceolate or lanceolate, pinnate below, pinnatifid above. Ultimate segments oblong, subacute, toothed or notched. Sori inserted in the notches, the indusium pointing backwards from the frond.—Raoul, Choix, 38; Hook. Gen. Fil. t. 15; Sp. Fil. i. 86; Garden Ferns, t. 31; Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. ii. 18; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 358; Hook, and Bak. Syn. Fil. 56; Thoms. N.Z Ferns, 33; Field, N.Z. Ferns, 55, t. 12, f. 1. Trichomanes cœnopteroides, Harv. ex A. Cunn. l.c. Davallia dealbata, A. Cunn. l.c.
North Island: Auckland—In woods from Mongonui and Kaitaia southwards to Te Aroha, not common. Sea-level to 1200 ft.
A very remarkable fern, with the habit of a coriaceous Davallia or Dicksonia, and the sorus of a Trichomanes. But the sporangia differ widely from those of Trichomanes in having an oblique ring, and the dehiscence is vertical, like that of Gleichenia and Schizæa. In has generally been placed in the tribe Hymenophyllaceæ, but the recent investigations of Professor Bower (Phil. Trans. Vol. cxcii., pp. 47 to 52) seem to prove that Presl and Bommer were right in regarding it as constituting a distinct tribe, having affinities with Gleichenia and Schizæa on the one hand, and on the other with the Hymenophyllaceæ and Dennstædia.
4. CYATHEA, Smith.
Tree-ferns, the New Zealand species with a trunk or caudex varying from 10–50 ft. or even more. Fronds very large, usually 2–3-pinnate, very rarely (in species not found in New Zealand) pinnate or undivided. Stipes often muricate or aculeate. Sori dorsal, globose, situated upon a vein or at the fork of a vein; receptacle elevated, globose or elongated. Indusium globose, at first covering the whole sorus, but soon bursting at the summit, often in an irregular manner, usually persistent as a cup surrounding the base of the sorus, its margin entire or laciniate. Sporangia numerous, sessile or nearly so, often mixed with jointed hairs, bursting transversely; ring somewhat oblique, usually complete.
A large and beautiful genus of over 120 species, most plentiful in damp tropical or subtropical regions, unknown in the north temperate zone. It attains its southern limit in New Zealand. Of the 4 species found therein, 2 appear to be endemic; the remaining 2 extend to Australia or the Pacific islands.
| * Under-surface of frond white. | |
| Trunk 10–30 ft. Fronds 6–12 ft.; stipes and rhachis clothed with yellowish-brown deciduous tomentum | 1. C. dealbata. |
