88 Transactions. 



Lycopodiaceae. 



1. Phylloglossum Kunze. 



"" A genus of a single species, found in New Zealand, Tasmania, Victoria, 

 and West Australia" (Manual, p. 1033). 



P. Drummondii Kunze : This curious little plant is not uncommon on 

 barren clay hills, though frequently absent from large areas. It varies 

 considerably in size and in the number of leaves, my specimens having 

 3-10 leaves. 



2. Lycopodium Linn. 



Eleven species occur in New Zealand, of which six only are found in this 

 district. 



L. BiMardieri Spring, is a handsome dark-green Lycopod usually pendent 

 from the branches or trunks of trees or from rocks, but it also occurs freely 

 -as a terrestrial plant among Leptospermum scrub. 



L. densum Labill. occurs freely on clay hills. To the beginner it is rather 

 a puzzling plant, owing to the variation in form of the juvenile and mature 

 plants, and in mature plants to the striking differences between the sterile 

 and fertile branches. In the fertile branches the leaves are more or less 

 densely imbricating and closely appressed, while those of the young plants 

 are much longer and more open in their setting. This species and the 

 following one bear a striking resemblance to miniature pine- trees, the 

 similarity being borne out by the cone-like spikes at the tips of the branchlets. 



L. cernuum Linn, is abundant in open clay lands, usually among scrub. 

 It not infrequently occurs on roadside cuttings and old landslides. It is 

 undoubtedly one of the most handsome plants of its class. 



L. laterale R. Br. is very plentiful wherever moist peaty soil occurs in the 

 open. The short lateral spikes distinguish this species from its congeners. 



L. Drummondii Spring. : This curious little Lycopod was first discovered 

 by Mr. Colenso in 1839, in some locality between Ahipara and Cape 

 Maria van Diemen (Manual, p. 1038). After that no botanist saw it again 

 in the Dominion for about sixty-seven years, when it was rediscovered 

 by my friend Mr. H. B. Matthews, of Kaitaia. It has only been noticed 

 within a limited area in the wet peaty morass at the north end of Lake 

 Tangonge, near Kaitaia, It is proposed to run a big drain through this 

 morass, and, when this is done, I greatly fear that this interesting plant 

 will cease to exist. It may, however, occur in similar country farther north. 



L. volubile Forst., the " waewaekoukou "' of the Maori, is probably the 

 most widely spread species we have, and the most beautiful. It is fre- 

 quently used in decorations, for which its long slender branched stems 

 and spreading leaves, forming graceful festoons, make it very suitable. 



3. Tmesipteris Bernh. 



T. tannensis Bernh. is plentiful in forests, where it occurs most commonly 

 on the stems of tree-ferns. Occasionally it is found on rocks or in masses of 

 decayed vegetable matter. 



4. Psilotum Swartz. 

 P. triquetrum Swartz is very rare in this district. It was collected by 

 the late Mr. R. H. Matthews on maritime rocks in Rangaunu Harbour 

 and at Merita Bay, the only habitats reported north of Rangitoto Island, 

 near Auckland. It appears to be confined to the coast and to the Hot 

 Springs region of the North Island. 



