[Read before the Auckland Institute, 19th November, 1877.]

During an excursion made in January last for the purpose of examining the vegetation of the district between the Waipa River and Raglan, I was greatly interested by collecting an evidently undescribed species of Polypodium at an altitude of about 2,000 feet on the Pirongia Mountain. A few days later, the same plant was gathered on the summit of the isolated mountain Karioi, between Raglan and Aotea. As in all probability it will be found that the species extends from these two localities southwards through the little known Upper Waipa and Mokau districts, and perhaps even still further south, I have thought it advisable to draw up a brief account of its distinguishing characters in order that the attention of collectors in other parts of the colony may be directed to it. I will not, however, confer a name upon the species, as this may have been already done in England, specimens having been forwarded to Kew immediately after its discovery.

Polypodium (Phymatodes), sp. nov.

Rhizome stout, woody, as thick as the fore-finger, densely clothed with large tawny ovate-lanceolate spreading scales. Stipes 6–12 inches long, quite glabrous, erect, smooth, and glossy. Frond dark green, 1–2 feet in length, 8–12 inches broad, in the upper part cut, down to within a short distance of the rachis, into numerous linear acuminate entire lobes; subpinnate below. Lobes varying in number from 5–14 on a side, 4–8 inches long, usually about ½ inch wide, lower ones often narrowed towards their bases. In large specimens it often happens that the lower lobes are free to the main rachis, so that the frond might be described as pinnate in the lower half. Texture sub-coriaceous, or sometimes almost papyraceous; both sides quite glabrous; main veins indistinct, areolæ rather large, with included free veinlets. Sori rather small, in a single row, nearer the margin than the midrib, slightly immersed.