320 TrarmactKMtis. 



Asplemumflabellifolium, Cav. A cosmopolitan fern in the district examined. 

 Aspleniiim ohtusatum. Forst. f. On coastal cliffs. Within the harbour this 

 fern presents all manner of intermediate gradations between A. ohtusatum 

 and A. lucidum. Wall (see Laing, 1919, p. 376) considers the coastal 

 fern of Lyttelton Harbour to be a form of A. lucidum rather than of 

 A. ohtusatum. I hold the same view in respect to the Asplenium of 

 Akaroa Harbour. 



Asplenium lucidum Forst. f. Wainui, French Farm, Barry's Bay, Pigeon 

 Bay, Akaroa, Little Tikao Bay. The typical form is met with 

 flanking the streams for a few chains from their entry into the harbour 

 wherever these are shaded by bush. Fronds 5 ft. 6 in. long were 

 recently exhibited by me in Christchurch from Barry's Bay. On 

 Adam's Point a gradual transition towards A. ohtusatum may be noted, 

 the pinnae becoming more and more oblique and erect, more coriaceous, 

 and shorter, and the fronds more dwarf and compact. An examination 

 of these localities leads me to think that the most potent factors in 

 causing this transition are the degree of exposure and the degree of 

 salinity at the roots. The degree of shade and moisture are also factors 

 of importance. 



Asplenium Lyallii (Moore) Cockayne. I obtained two specimens of this 

 fern within a chain of typical A lucidum and the fern here called 

 A. ohtusatum on Adam's Point. Head of Duvauchelles, W. M. 



Asplenium Hookerianum Col. Three very distinct forms of this composite 

 species exist in the locality. The typical form is abundant in Akaroa 

 itself, at Maori Kaik, and at Wainui ; it is well distributed generally. 

 Superficially, a second form, found in Balgueri Valley, almost exactly 

 matches the plate given by Field for A. umhrosum var. parvifolium. 

 Var. Colensoi is found at Tikao Bay, D. G. R. 



Asplenium hulhiferum Forst. f. The commonest bush-fern, but, Uke a 

 number of others, it may often be seen growing in a crevice in a rock 

 exposed to the full effects of sun and wind, in which situation it 

 becomes extremely coriaceou; . 



Asplenium. Richardi Hook f. Waikerikikeri, R. M..L. ; coastal cUffs on the 

 seaward side, D. G. R. 



Asplenium flaccidum Forst. f. This fern is everywhere abundant. 



Polysfichum vestitum Presl. Very common in the upper regions of the 

 bush— ie., above 1,000 ft. Where the bush has been cleared this fern 

 oiten continues to thrive in the open. 



Polystichum Richardi J. Sm. A very hardy cosmopolitan type, thriving 

 equally well on the coastal cliffs, open pasture, and dense bush. It 

 thrives at all levels. The Aspidium oculatum of the Handhooh (Hooker) 

 does not seem to be a fixed type, as considerable variation in the disc 

 of the involucre and in the margin of the scales occurs sometimes in 

 a single clump of P. Richardi. 



Polystichum hispidum J. Sm. Maori Kaik, Newton's Valley, Balgueri 

 Valley, Le Bon's, W. M. Nowhere common. 



Polystichum adiantiforme (Forst.) J. Sm. Regarded by Laing as "pro- 

 bably an erroneous identification," but undoubted specimens may easily 

 be obtained on the caudices of Dickonsia squarrosa about a mile up 

 Grehan Valley. I have obtained it in Newton's Valley, and also in the 

 valley below the Jubilee Road, a quarter of a mile above McDonald's, 

 at Wainui, where it was growing luxuriantly, though only two specimens 

 were seen. 



