256 Trmisactions. — Botany. 



A few of those tree-ferns were 2-brancliecl ; one, I noticed 

 bearing three branches ; all of the branches were at some 

 height from the gromid, and rose just as high as the parent 

 stock. Several of those tree-ferns grew in little clmups of 3, 4, 

 or 5, arising from small mounds 2 feet liigh or so, with deep 

 watery muddy holes between them ; their stems were very close 

 together, and appeared as if fascicled or springing from one 

 root-stock below ; while above they not unfrequently diverged 

 from the perpendicular. 



Familiar as I have long been with our New Zealand forests 

 and their denizens, I gazed with astonishment in this deep and 

 secluded grove of tree-ferns ! for I had never before witnessed 

 such a grand display of them ; neither had I seen for upwards 

 of 40 years"'' this pretty species of soft silky Hi/menvphifUum that 

 was here so exceedingly common. Very certain I am that it 

 does not grow in those several and many scattered parts of that 

 same extensive forest which I have so frequently visited during 

 these last 10-12 years. 



From this wet wood I brought away several fine Hepntica; ; 

 particularly that superb Gottschca, G. dichotoma, Col.,t the 

 largest known New Zealand species. This fine plant (which I 

 have only detected in this locality,) completely and thickly 

 covered a large old stump, hanging gracefully down around its 

 top, reminding one of a rich-looking fringed circular cushion 

 or hassock. The ground or mud in many places was thickly 

 covered with long irregular patches of an erect species of Sym- 

 2)h!/of/i/na, which I believe to be ncw.j This genus is mostly 

 gregarious in small lots, but I never before saw it growing iu 

 such profusion, and so very compact and large, somewhat 

 resembling beds of curled cress or parsley. Places and spots of 

 botanical beauty or novelty, however, (like all other things,) have 

 their drawbacks or opposites : the worst feature here was the 

 very bad footing, causing much tumbling about and splashing 

 and sinking, between slippery and hidden rotting roots and 

 branches, into deep black vegetable mud up to one's knees ; and 

 then there was the haunting fear of some accident happening, 

 through which I should not bo able to get out of this tangled 

 labyrinth ; and, as a matter of course, in that distant and un- 

 frequented spot, should not be easily or early found, if ever 

 found at all ! 



2. As to the very peculiar growth of some tree-ferns, caused by 



* Originally discovered in the mountainous woods of the interior, N.W. 

 of Lake Waikarc, in 18il, and published in 1812 in the " Tasmanian 

 Journal of Natural Science," vol. i., p. '67S ; also vol. ii., p. 183. 



t See " Trans. N.Z. Inst.," vol. xviii., p. 284. 



J Since ascertained to be such : a description of this plant will also be 

 given in a paper to follow. 



