AEBORESCENT 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 3 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 a surrounding mass of a looser and 

 coarser 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. On 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 Dichsonia 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 pinnae ap- 

 pear, being clothed with inch-long, erect, brownish-black hairs or 

 setae, springing from the upper surface and sides of the stipe ; 

 rough, Avith minute tubercles ; branching rootlets, tufted with 

 brownish tomentum issuing upwards from between the stipites. 

 The very young gyrate fronds are clothed with auburn hair. 



