ON THE AKBORESCENT FERNS OF NEW ZEALAND. 163 



the first carpel (organ 19) stood opposite stamen No. 11 ; the 

 second carpel (organ 20) opposite stamen No. 12 ; and the third 

 opposite No. 13 (fig. 5). This advance of the stamens, driving 

 forward the carpels, is still more clearly seen when only one 

 carpel exists, since this then stands, according to circumstances, 

 in an anterior, lateral, or posterior place. These conditions seem 

 exactly comparable with the advance of the stamens in an entire 

 whorl, and the production of a new whorl of carpels, such as I 

 have described in the double Balsam. 



On the Arborescent Ferns of New Zealand. By Thomas Shear- 

 man Ealph, Esq., A.L.S. 



[Read Dec. 2, 1858.] 



Thinking that some observations on the Arborescent Ferns of 

 New Zealand may interest the members of the Society, I have 

 thrown them into the form of a paper ; and I have also forwarded 

 specimens to illustrate the various points which I think are either 

 unnoticed or are most worthy of remark. 



Of the four species of Oyathea described in Dr. J. D. Hooker's 

 * Flora of New Zealand,' the most prominent one is the 0. dealhata, 

 or Silver Fern, known by its straight upright stem and white 

 fronds. It is by far the commonest species, and grows in all 

 situations, from the stream in the bottom of the gully to the very 

 tops of the highest hills (in the south part of the north island), 

 where perhaps it is more inclined to form groups. 



G. meduUaris, or Black Fern, can be recognized in the early 

 stage, before it has made much stem, by the very long fronds 

 mounted on long black stipes, rising almost perpendicularly up- 

 wards, while its greater height and more solid appearance of stem 

 mark it out at an older stage. 



C. Gunninghami is scarce, and likely to be often passed over as 

 G. Smithii in the dark recesses of the gullies in which it chiefly 

 delights to shelter itself; but it may, after some acquaintance, be 

 picked out of the crowd at a little distance. When very young, 

 its stem is entirely covered with the remains of the black bases of 

 the stipites, from which the dead fronds dangle all the way up, 

 giving it a very untidy and ragged appearance. The darker hue 

 of its fronds, which in the older state of the plant are as many as 

 thirty or forty in a head, and form a funnel-shaped crown, serves 

 also to distinguish this species from — 



M 2 



