168 ME. T. S. RALPH ON THE 
light: pinns 20-22 pairs, springing from the upper rounded sur- 
face; lower short and erect; middle ones gradually assuming 
the horizontal position. Veins simply pinnate in barren fronds, 
forked in fertile ones. Indusium truly cup-shaped, open above, 
and protruding the compactly arranged sporangia to double the 
' distance; they are covered by it below; receptacle large and 
club-shaped. I believe the cup never covers the sporangia. The 
main rachis is brownish, channeled above, rough beneath with 
minute points, the sides being covered at their early stage with 
soft scales or palez, as also are the partial ones. Warty scars 
situated between the pinne and on the sides of the rachis. 
-Note. 'This fern wants the characteristic sudden acuminate 
point of the рїп, so remarkable in the other three species. 
I first noticed this species springing from a trunk which had 
been buried in the side of a gully by the falling in of the soft 
upper soil; and it had formed a stem 6 feet high, rising up at а 
right angle from the stem. I subsequently noticed many other 
specimens both of this species and of C. Cunninghamii similarly 
circumstanced. 
I have sent with the stem-sections some natural skeletons of 
the stem of Cyathea medullaris, which may be of service to com- 
pare with some geological remains. I think it is evident also 
that the natives of New Zealand have taken their scroll-like orna- 
ments, in their houses, &c., from the gyrate fronds of the large 
ferns, and also from the curious markings on the long scars of 
the stems when they have decayed off the cellular substance. 
These stems were in use as fencing, round their paas or villages. 
(See ‘ Illustrations of New Zealand Scenery,’ &c.) 
Dicksonia antarctica.—This tree-fern is getting scarce about 
Wellington, while D. squarrosa seems to be met with rather 
more freely. A specimen of a stem, which I have sent, was part 
of one 5 feet high. There was another which stood by, 12 or 15 
feet in height ; but I had not the heart to cut it down. The lowest 
part of this last was hard and fibrous, and very different from 
the specimen sent; but the upper half was so soft, that I could 
impress it easily with my fingers. The lower portions had become 
hardened, partly from the decay of the very soft woolly substance 
which exists so abundantly at the bases of the stipites, and also 
from the increase in size of the root-like fibres which penetrate 
the woolly portion. This woolly substance, of a beautiful auburn 
colour, serves to retain a great amount of moisture around the 
rootlets which emerge from between the stipites, and facilitates 
