Bird. — Lianes of the Ancient Forest of Canterbury Plains. 319 



varying depths. The distal end of subpetioles is bent np about 0"5 cm. 

 from the lamina, and considerably thickened. Further, the lamina is at 

 right angles to this thickened portion, and so lies parallel to the proximal 

 portion of the subpetiole. Prickles may be present on the under surface 

 of petiole, subpetiole, and midrib. 



(a.) Rubus australis var. glaber. 



A. LIFE -FORM. 



This species is fairly abundant in the forest, and is found chiefly in the 

 drier situations. Since these parts of the forest are the habitat of plants 

 of varying habits, the liane is presented with abundant support, usually 

 climbing up among the interlacing branches to a height of 12 m. or more. 

 Very often the falling of trees forms large gaps in the forest vegetation, 

 which provide excellent situations for plants which thrive best in bright 

 sunlight. And it is on the plants surrounding such gaps that R. australis 

 is found growing at its best. Its thick stem, often 4 cm. in diameter, 

 covered with a hard, brown, scaly bark, gives ofi at right angles numerous 

 lateral shoots, which branch further, and, finally, leafy masses borne on 

 these branches form an impenetrable wall 3-4 m. high. 



In the more shaded portions of the forest the stems give rise to very 

 few lateral branches, but stretch up like ropes into the branches overhead, 

 where their foliage is spread out in the light. In such cases, where the 

 expanse of foliage is on the branches of a kahikatea, whose lowest branches, 

 as stated above, are usually 20 m. from the ground, it is impossible to 

 conceive how the liane could reach the support directly. However, the 

 frequent presence of decaying stumps of trees near these taxads suggests 

 that the lianes commenced their growth by scrambling up these trees, and 

 from their top branches reached those of the neighbouring pines. Such 

 a process as this is actually seen occurring on other trees which form 

 supports for the liane. From almost any part of the liane-stem there arise 

 adventitious shoots similar to those of R. schmidelioides, and if these shoots 

 happen to arise within 2-3 m. of the branches of a neighbouring tree the 

 shoots very often bridge the intervening space ; then by the grasping 

 action of prickles, which are borne on the stems, the new supports are 

 firmly held. The stems of R. australis which have never reached a support 

 or which have fallen away from such, and lie along the ground, show great 

 tendency to adventitious rooting wherever in contact with moist soil. From 

 these trailing-stems adventitious shoots often arise, which may reach a 

 support, or which may bend over and, continuing their growth along the 

 ground, give ofi still more roots. Now, the writer has proved by experi- 

 ment that when these roots are well developed they are themselves capable 

 of supplying sufficient nutritive material and water for the further growth 

 of any adventitious shoot which arises near them. Thus an injury to the 

 primary root or stem need not result in the death of the whole plant. On 

 th e contrary, this rooting is a means by which the plant can increase by 

 vegetative reproduction, one such plant noted representing at least seven 

 potential individuals. 



B. LEAF. 



(i.) Leaf -form. 



Leaves 3-5-foliate ; leaflets coriaceous, glabrous, 8-12 cm. long, ovate- 

 oblong or ovate-lanceolate ; base rounded or truncate, apex acute, margin 

 serrate. Petiole 6-8 cm. long, deeply grooved on upper surface along its 



