254 Transactions. — Botany. 



the growth of many years, presenting a curious bushy spectacle, 

 appearing in the quiet sheltered recesses of the ancient forests 

 as if no disturbance had ever there taken phxce, for not one old 

 frond had fallen from above ! As a natural consequence, in such 

 cases the stems underneath are clean and free from epiphytes. 



The epiphytal vegetation common to the stems of the tree- 

 ferns is in some respects peculiar and worthy of notice. For, 

 while such is mainly composed of some of our smallest and most 

 delicate ferns, (of Hepatica;, and one or two species of mosses, 

 and not unfrequently a small Astelia,) some of the larger trees of 

 the forest are often seen springing from their stems ; these 

 not unfrequently flourish in their peculiar situations, and some- 

 times grow to a large size, lofty, overtopping the fern-tree itself, 

 and sometimes, though rarely, killing it by its close embrace ; 

 more usually, both seem to flourish and enjoy their curious 

 reciprocal attachment. The trees that are commonly found 

 so combined with the fern-tree are Wcinmannia (sps.), and 

 Panax arborea, and Ackama roscefolia in the forests at the North, 

 the peculiar locality of this genus. 



The ferns that often clothe and completely hide the trunks 

 of the tree-ferns comprise the smaller species oi Hymcnophyllion, 

 as H. nite7is, H. tunbridgense (and its varieties), and //. rarum ; 

 also, Trichomanes venosum, and its near ally T. venustuJa ; indeed, 

 such may truly be called the proper home of these two Tricho- 

 manes, as well as of Hymenophijlimn timbridyense, for nowhere 

 else are these pretty little ferns to be found growing so luxuri- 

 antly. It is a beautiful object to contemplate the whole stem 

 of a large tree-fern so dressed and decorated by Nature ! often 

 extending completely and closely around the trunk, and that for 

 several feet ; their little elegant glistening hght-greon fronds, 

 so very regular, too, in their manner of pendulous growth, over- 

 lapping each other and imbricating like scales. Here is also 

 the home of that highly curious fern Tniesiptens, never found 

 growing on the earth, and rarely found on any other plant ; and 

 very recently a small and new species * of the closely-allied genus 

 Lycopodium has been detected growing thereon ; while a small 

 elegant moss, Hymenodon jdliferus, (the only New Zealand species 

 of that genus,) is sure to be found deeply ensconced between the 

 numerous dead stipites, and growing freely in its dry abode. 

 Two or three species of delicate small frondose Hepatinr {e.y., 

 Syiiiphyoyyna sub-.'iiniple.f, S. brevicaulis, S. simplex, I'oduniitrium, 

 .Phyllanthiis, etc.,) are also at home there, snugly nestling deep 

 in the crevices of the stems, from which it is a difficult matter 

 to dislodge them without breaking ; while somd of the larger 

 Ilepaticic, as the dendroid Playiochila; are often found growing 



• A full description of this little novelty has been prepared, and will be 

 iven in a following paper. 



