ARBORESCENT FERNS OF NEW ZEALAND. 169 
their growth. A transverse section of the stem varies consider- 
ably, according as it is cut high up or low down, as may be seen 
in my specimens. A section taken 8 or 4 feet from below the 
head gives us a woody centre or cylinder, and around it an im- 
mense mass of a very dry light-brown substance, penetrated by 
root-like fibres, without any trace of a stipe-like nature. A sec- 
tion, taken 2 feet above this, gives the cylinder closely surrounded 
by transverse sections of the remains of the stipites,—some 50 or 
60, or more, remaining distinct, close-pressed and packed together, 
with traces of fine hair-like fibres, which clothe the bases of the 
stipites. Outside these is а surrounding mass of a looser and 
eoarser texture, consisting of a mass of matted fibres of a root- 
like appearance, and decaying stipites, which have almost lost their 
form in the general decay. Оп making a vertical section (and 
this I believe is best done in recent fern-stems by splitting them 
with a wedge in place of sawing), it will be seen that the woolly 
substance closely invests the bases of the stipites, which are deeply 
buried in the substance of the woody cylinder; and a number of 
rootlets may also be traced issuing outwards: these, I think, 
sometimes ascend and then turn downwards, increasing, and 
penetrating the decaying stipites, and in process of time forming 
a tangled mesh or net-work of a coarse kind, and which remains 
after the decay of the fine hairy fibres and the stipital bases. 
Perhaps this state of things has led to the enumeration of a third 
species of Dicksonia in these parts. As yet I have only met with 
two. 
D. squarrosa.—The fronds are about 8 to 10 feet long; stem 
16 feet, &c., slender; small rootlets spreading in irregular masses 
here and there, and forming irregular growths, which ultimately 
unite, but no appearance of a coating of a fine fibrous nature. 
The black stipites run up the stem for a foot or more, and ascend 
clear of the head 18 inches or 2 feet before the lower pinnæ ap- 
pear, being clothed with inch-long, erect, brownish-black hairs or 
sete, springing from the upper surface and sides of the stipe; 
rough, with minute tubercles; branching rootlets, tufted with 
brownish tomentum issuing upwards from between the stipites. 
The very young gyrate fronds are clothed with auburn hair. 
