Oliver. — Vegetation of the Kennadec Islands. 141 



In Metrosideros villosa the margins of the leaves are more or less recurved. 

 The leaves of the three above plants agree very closely in size, shape, and 

 texture. They are small, entire, oblong, coriaceous, with their margins 

 recurved or more or less rolled. 



In wet forest, where more hygrophytic conditions prevail, Metrosideros 

 and Rapanea cease to be the dominant plants, and the leaves are of a less 

 pronounced xerophilous character. 



Leaf-buds are protected, probably against desiccation, in various ways. 

 In Homolanthus polyandrus two imbricate bracts enclose each of the delicate 

 young leaves until they expand. In Macropiper excelsuni the sheathing base 

 of the petiole of the terminal leaf contains the leaf -bud. In Nothopanax 

 arhoreum the bud is covered with mucilage. Metrosideros villosa and Pitto- 

 sporum crassifolium have the buds covered with dense white tomentum. 



Partial caulifiory is exhibited in Rapanea kermadecensis and Melicytus 

 ramiflorifs. 



Dicecious flowers occur in Melicytus ramiflorus, Macropiper excelsum 

 major, Coprosma acutifolia. C. petiolata, and Nothopanax arhoreum. 



Aerial roots are produced abundantly in Metrosideros villosa. The wetter 

 the situation the greater the profusion of roots. In wet forest the prostrate 

 trunk of a tree may be a metre above ground, supported by hundreds of 

 large and small root props, and sending up large branches Uke distinct 

 trees. 



Ornithophily is exhibited especially in Metrosideros villosa, which has 

 flowers with a brushlike polyandrous androecium, and a supply of nectar at 

 the base. The tui (Prosthemadera novce zealandice) is certainly instrumental 

 in effecting cross-pollination for this species. These birds are abundant 

 on Sunday Island, and may frequently be seen, with a yellow patch of pollen 

 at the bases of their bills, visiting the flowers of the Metrosideros. 



Entomophily occurs with Melicytus ramiflorus. Lacewings were observed 

 visiting the flowers of both male and female plants, apparently searching 

 for nectar, which I suspect is secreted by the glandular organs at the base 

 of the petals. The lacewing thus unintentionally carries away from the 

 male flowers pollen adhering to the under-side of the thorax. Should the 

 insects afterwards visit female flowers, the pollen would cling to the viscid 

 surface of the stigma, and fertilisation be effected. 



The reproductive organs of Macropiper excelsum major, Homolanthus 

 polyandrus, Coprosma acutifolia, and C. petiolata are adapted for wind 

 pollination. 



(3.) Epiphytes : With one or two unimportant exceptions the epiphytes 

 on Sunday Island are cryptogams. They are a conspicuous feature of wet 

 forest, where almost every available space on trees, palms, and tree-ferns is 

 covered with mosses and ferns. Elsewhere they are much less abundant. 

 The large leaning stems and horizontal branches of Metrosideros villosa 

 support a thick covering of mosses, among which grow a variety of ferns. 

 In the wet forest the rough stems of tree-ferns [Cyathea) are often clothed 

 with filmy ferns and mosses, whilst even the smooth stem of Rhopalostylis 

 Baueri is sometimes hidden by a mantle of mosses and ferns. 



The principal epiphytes are Cyclophorus serpens, Polypodium diversi- 

 folium, Asplenium flaccidum, A. caudatum, Nepkrolepis cordi folia, Tricho- 

 manes venosum, Hymenophyllum demissum, H. flahellatum, Tmesipteris 

 tannensis, Lycopodium Billardieri, Acianthus Sinclairi, and Peperomia 

 Endlicheri. 



