252 Transactions. — Botany. 



aspect, and when gathered with unbroken base it adheres closely 

 together, yet on the basis being cut it falls directly into separate 

 fibrils or fronds. Growing with it and scattered among it, and 

 just as closely compacted and regular in height, is another 

 small Hepatica, GymnomUrium orbiculata, mihi {supra). 



2. A. pellucida, sp. nov. 



Plant low, creeping, forming large, compact, small-moss-like 

 patches on branches of living trees, densely imbricate, regular 

 in height and in general appearance, 3-4 lines high, bi-tri- 

 pinnatifid, rather thickish, succulent, very fragile, bright emerald- 

 green, shining; main branches concealed, flat, broad, adhering 

 strongly by many minute rootlets ; branchlets opposite, sub- 

 erect, sub-palmate, many lobed ; lobes short, broadly linear, 

 entire, obtuse and emarginate, the broadest minutely crenulate 

 at tip, sub-pellucid ; cells large, sub-orbicular, very close, 

 apparently disposed in a double layer and beaded. Calyptra 

 cylindrical, li lines long, white, transparent, rugose ; cells 

 large and oblong, also having a beaded appearance. Seta very 

 slender, weak, hyaline, shining, ^ inch long. Capsule, valves 

 linear, acute, spreading, finely striate longitudinally ; pencils of 

 elaters at tips patent with a sub-rigid appearance, bi-spiral, 

 acicular at tips. 



Hab. On branches of living trees ; wet shady woods, near 

 Norsewood, County of Waipawa; 1876-1885 : W.Q. 



Obs. A small, low, spreading, mossy-looking plant of a lively 

 green colour, not unfrequently met with on the branches of the 

 smaller forest trees with smooth bark, (as Melicytus, the larger 

 species of Coprosma, W einmannia , etc.,) in wet shaded woods, 

 but rarely ever found in fruit. Indeed, I never detected any 

 fruiting specimens until this autumn (April, 1885). It is 

 altogether a charming object under a miscroscope from its trans- 

 parency, the apparent regularity of its growth, in the length, 

 height, and direction of its minute fronds, (all, too, severally 

 more or less irregular,) is very remarkable. It has close 

 natural affinity with the following species, A. crispa. 



3. A. crispa, sp. nov. 



Plant prostrate, spreading in effuse dense patches, 4-5 inches 

 long ; 2-3 pinnatifid, closely imbricate, dark-green. Fronds or 

 lobes about ^ inch high, sub-erect, ascending, much cut and 

 irregularly laciniate ; calyptra white, sub-clavate, tubercled, 

 erect and curved, 2 lines long, rising above the plant, and so 

 presenting a novel appearance ; fruit-stalk very slender ; capsule 

 rather long, linear-oblong; valves narrow, bearing elaters largely 

 at their tips. 



Hab. On rotten logs, shaded and darnp spots, base of high 

 cliffs, banks of Kiver Mangatawhainui, near Norsewood, County 

 of Waipawa ; October, 1884 ; W.C. 



