Lomaria.]
FILICES.
975
| ** sterile fronds pinnatifid above, pinnate below, central and lower pinnæ free, but mere or less dilated at their bases. | |
| a. Pinnæ at the base of the frond not reduced in size. | |
| Fronds 4–14 in. , lanceolate-deltoid. Pinnæ 1½–3 in. lanceolate or ensiform, the lowest pair often deflexed | 3. L. vulcanica. |
| b. Pinnæ gradually reduced in size towards the base of the frond. | |
| Fronds 1–3 ft. × 3–6 in., submembranous. Pinnæ 1½–3 in. × ⅓–⅔ in., lanceolate, falcate, acuminate. Pinnæ of fertile fronds 2–3 in. long. | 4. L. Norfolkiana. |
| Fronds 6–18 in. × 2–4 in., submembranous. Pinnæ 1–2 in. × ¼–½ in., oblong-lanceolate, obtuse or acute, sinuate-crenate. Pinnæ of fertile fronds ¾–1½ in., narrow-linear, acute | 5. L. lanceolata. |
| Fronds 9–30 in. × 1½–4 in., fleshy or coriaceous. Pinnæ ¾–2½ in. × ¼–½ in., linear-oblong to lanceolate, entire. Pinnæ of fertile fronds ¾–1½ in., linear-oblong, obtuse | 6. L. dura. |
| Rhizome short. Fronds 4–12 in. × ½–1 in., dark-green, coriaceous. Pinnæ ⅓–½ in. × ¼ in., oblong to suborbicular. Fertile fronds shorter than the sterile | 7. L. Banksii. |
| Rhizome creeping. Fronds 2–12 in. × ⅓–⅔ in., coriaceous to submenibranous. Pinnæ 15–⅓ in., ovate-oblong to linear-oblong. Fertile fronds longer than the sterile; pinnæ linear-oblong, obtuse | 8. L. alpina. |
| *** Sterile fronds pinnate, or pinnatifid above; pinnæ not dilated at their | |
| Rhizome short, thick. Fronds often very large, 1–8 ft. long. Pinnæ 3–12 in. × ½–1 in., linear, coriaceous | 9. L. capensis. |
| Rhizome very long, climbing. Sterile fronds dimorphic; lower with small rounded pinnæ; upper with long lanceolate falcate ones | 10. L. filiformis. |
| Rhizome short, suberect. Fronds 3–8 in. × 1–1½ in., blackish-green, lyrate-pinnatifid. Terminal pinnæ much longer than the lateral | 11. L. nigra. |
| Rhizome stout, suberect. Fronds 12–30 in. × ¾–1½ in., linear, membranous; rhachis and stipes bristly and scaly. Pinnæ ½–¾ in. × ¼–⅓ in., oblong to suborbicular, obtuse | 12. L. fluviatilis. |
| Rhizome short, suberect. Fronds 3–10 in. × ¾–1½ in., submembranous; stipes and rhachis naked. Pinnæ ½–¾ in., ovate-oblong to oblong, obtuse | 13. L. membranacea. |
| B. Fronds bipinnate | |
| Rhizome often produced into a caudex resembling the trunk of a miniature tree-fern. Fronds 9–18 in. long, ovate, acuminate | 14. L. Fraseri. |
1. L. Patersoni, Spreng. Syst. Veg. iv. 62; var. elonga. Hook, and Bak. Syn. Fil. 174.—Rhizome short, stout, creeping, clothed with blackish-brown scales, sometimes stoloniferous; rootlets tomentose. Stipes 3–9 in. long, stout, black, scaly at the base. Sterile fronds very variable; of young plants (and occasionally of old ones) quite simple and entire, 6–12 in. long, 1–1½ in. broad; of old plants pinnatifid, 1–3 ft. long or more, 6–12 in. broad, broadly
