IN NEW ZEALAND. 37 
with forests to their summits; which having attained, we de- 
scended to a deep valley, where ran a rapid brawling stream, 
from 2 to 3 feet in depth. By the banks of this river, 
among gigantic ferns and underwood, decaying logs and fallen 
trees, we travelled on, every now and then crossing the 
stream, which we certainly did this day more than fifty 
times. This was by no means pleasant, but there was no 
alternative. I observed in one place where we crossed the 
river, a small plant, under water, growing thickly in its gra- 
velly bed, where the stream was deep and rapid ; I got up a 
quantity, but could not detect either inflorescence or fruit ; 
from habit and general appearance I believed it to be a spe- 
cies of Epilobium; but unfortunately I subsequently lost 
the specimens thus procured. On the banks of this 
river, I first obtained a fine arborescent Dicksonia (289), 
D. fibrosa, n. sp., W. C. This fern, in its native forests, 
attains a height of 18 feet. Its large and spreading living 
fronds measure from 6 to 9 feet in length; these, how- 
ever, are generally few in number and deciduous. In affinity, 
itis near D. squarrosa, Sw., from which species, however, it 
may readily be distinguished, even at a distance, by its very 
bulky caudex, composed of thick layers of fibres, resembling, 
at first sight, the fibrous interior of the husk of the cocoa- 
nut. Some trees I noticed possessing a trunk from 14 to 16 
inches in diameter. The natives separate this fibrous epi- 
dermis into thick slices, which they use for many purposes in 
the construction of their houses and stores, being easier cut 
by them, with their scanty means, than wood. A piece as large 
asa small plank may readily be obtained. They find it, 
also, to be much more effectual than timber, in excluding 
rats and mice, as these animals cannot gnaw through this dry 
and fibrous substance with the facility which they can through 
wood. In this locality I also found a species of Myrtus 
(194), a small tree, which I believe to be identical with one — 
discovered on the banks of the River Wairua in 1841, and - 
numbered 23 in the case of specimens sent you in that year, 
bearing orange-coloured and edible berries. It also seems to 
