402 Transactions. — Botany. 



fern-lands, marvel at any human being deriving nourishment 

 from the fern-roots. "Wishing to show good specimens of it at 

 one of our Institute meetings some years ago, I got some 

 through our resident Maori chiefs, obtained from inland beyond 

 Te Wairoa, seventy miles distant. And I recollect being 

 shown a small isolated volcanic hill, far away in the interior 

 in the Taupo district (when I was travelling in those parts 

 nearly fifty years ago), that was famed for producing first- 

 quality fern-root ; and for the possession of that hill battles 

 had been fought and much blood shed. The officers of Cook's 

 expedition ate of it when prepared by the Maoris, and praised 

 it, remarking that it resembled London gingerbread. Then, 

 there were also other ferns used as food by the ancient 

 Maoris, particularly the inner stem, or large succulent semi- 

 gelatinous pith, of the large " black fern-tree," the maviakit of 

 the Maoris = Cyathca medullaris = marrow-stalked Cyathea 

 (also justly so named by Forster, who, in his writings, com- 

 pared the soft edible pith, of which he had eaten, to sago). 

 But I must pass on from the useful and pleasing fern 

 order. 



2. Lycopodiums — of which order we have several species, 

 though of little known use. Perhaps L. voluhile (or twining 

 Lycopodium) is among the prettiest. This plant was formerly 

 used by the young New Zealand females to make neat and 

 simple wreaths for their heads ; and certainly, from its grace- 

 ful slender form and light-green colour, it w'as well adapted 

 for their raven locks. One other species, L. densuvi, I may 

 also briefly mention, from its being considered very nearly 

 allied to the large fossil Lepidodendron of our British coal- 

 shales. 



3. Maesiliace^. — Of this small and curious order we have 

 only one species in New Zealand, Azolla rubra, a peculiar- 

 looking water-plant, which may be commonly seen in large 

 quantities, red, and floating on the lakes and pools near Te Aute 

 and in the bush district, and in other small still waters. It 

 was on the small fruits or capsules of nardoo (Marsilea 

 giganfea), an allied plant of low humble growth, that the ex- 

 plorer Burke and his party, when they w^ere in great distress 

 from want of food, subsisted for some time in the interior of 

 Australia, where it grows abundantly on the extensive plains 

 of that country. 



4. Mosses. — Of these elegant productions of nature New 

 Zealand has a good share, some of them being really superb, 

 and prominent among the largest and handsomest of the 

 order. 



5. Hepatic^. — This order is also well represented here ; 

 but, as I intend to make it the main subject of this paper, I 

 pass on. 



