Hollo WAY. — Studies in the New Zealand Species of Lycopodium. 257 



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and so probably climbing-organs (10, p. 346). Adventitious roots 

 are borne ventrally at intervals along the main axis. In places 

 where the plants are scrambling over low-growing bushes these roots 

 may attain a length of 3-5 ft. before reaching the ground. In the 

 late winter and early spring a very characteristic feature is the thick 

 envelope of mucilage which covers from 3 in. to 12 in. of the growing 

 root-tip before it has reached the ground. The fertile spikes are thin and 

 cylindrical, and from 1 in. to 4 in. in length, and occur in large terminal 

 much-branched panicles. They are figured in Engler and Prantl (9). 

 The fertile branches are to be found for the most part in those regions 

 of the plant which are elevated on some low-growing vegetation, and they 

 are thus generally pendulous. Although the panicles of spikes in their 

 normal form are very distinct from the ordinary vegetative branches, 

 yet close observation shows that all stages of transition may occur. 

 Isolated sporangia are sometimes to be found on sterile branches; in 

 other cases fertile and sterile branchlets are indiscriminately mixed; 

 while in others, again, sterile tracts may appear in the spikes themselves. 



L. ramulosum T. Kirk. 



I have gathered this species from the peaty flats at the head of the 

 Rakiahua Arm of Paterson Inlet, Stewart Island, and from bogs in 

 the neighbourhood of Hokitika and Kumara, Westland. It occurs 

 abundantly, covering the ground with mats of interlacing plants. It is 

 common in such a habitat all over Stewart Island, ascending to the 

 summits of the mountains; and is found also in bogs, both lowland and 

 subalpine, throughout Westland and north-west Nelson. The individual 

 plant is very short — from 2 in. to 9 in. in total length — and is irregu- 

 larly branched both above and below ground. The study of this species 

 as growing in Stewart Island shows that the subterranean portions are 

 of two distinct kinds. Those stems nearer the surface are whitish in 

 appearance, and are thickly covered with scale leaves; from these the 

 aerial branches arise. Those portions which penetrate the peaty humus 

 more deeply are brownish in colour, and are more or less naked of scale 

 leaves, and are the ones which more frequently bear the adventitious 

 roots. The two kinds of stem arise from one another without transi- 

 tions. TTie aerial branches are procumbent or ascending, and are much 

 branched. The short solitary cones are borne terminally on erect 

 branches, but occasionally they may occupy a lateral position. 



L. fastigiatum R. Br. 



This species is common on open mountainous country throughout the 

 South Island, especially on tussock grassland. It also occurs in subalpine 

 Nothofagus cliffortioides forest, where it assumes a more mesophytic habit. 

 In Southland and Stewart Island it also descends to low levels. There is 

 a subterranean creeping main axis, which is usually from 1 ft. to 3 ft. in 

 length, but which may be as much as 5 ft. long. Branches of limited and 

 also of unlimited growth arise from the main axis, the former emerging 

 from the surface to form the erect greenish or reddish tree-like aerial 

 branches. These latter are from 6 in. to 12 in. in height, and are densely 

 branched, but when growing amongst thick tussock-grass are much more 

 slender in habit, and are taller. When growing on sour peaty soil the 

 branches may be flattened to the ground. The cones are from 1 in. to 

 2 in. in length, and are borne, usually singly but sometimes two or 

 more together, at the end of the branchlets on distinct peduncles. 



9— Trans. 



