86 Transactions. 



G. circinata Swartz and G. dicarpa R. Br. : There appear to be consider- 

 able differences of opinion as to whether the above are really two distinct 

 species, or merely forms of one species. The technical distinctions appear 

 to be mainly in the form of the segments of the pinnae, those of G. circinata 

 being flat, while those of G. dicarpa are pouch-like ; but, as Dr. Cockayne 

 has pointed out,* this pouching of the segments appears to be more or less 

 a matter of sunshine. On a shaded forest slope bordering on marshy land 

 I gathered what I take to be var. hecistophyUa in which the segments are 

 perfectly flat and the rhachis almost destitute of the woolly scales, which, 

 along with the pouch-like form of the segments, is quite evident in plants 

 a few yards away exposed to the full sunshine. In drying, however, the 

 plants of the shade become to a certain extent pouched. I have been in the 

 habit of using the number of sporangia 1-4 in G. circinata, and 1-2, rarely 3, 

 in G. dicarpa, but this is rather a frail support to base a distinction on. 



G. Gunninghamii Heward occurs plentifully in forests, though it is 

 absent from large areas. It is usually found in fairly high bush. Like 

 the other species, it is proliferous, and a well-grown specimen showing several 

 tiers of umbrella-like fronds has a very striking appearance. 



G. flabdlata R. Br. is not uncommon, usually in the moorland country, 

 on the sides of streams, or on rather damp slopes. 



In the three preceding species the fronds are arranged horizontally in 

 an umbrella-like form ; in G. flabdlata, as indicated by the name, the frond 

 is several times dichotomously divided, and ascends in a fan-like form. 



26. Schizaea Smith. 



The three species recorded in the Manual occur freely in this district. 



S. fistidosa Labill. and S. bifida Swartz are common plants of the more 

 barren parts of the moorlands. The simple or unbranched form of S. bifida 

 is much commoner than the typical plant. It is always much smaller, 

 but is readily distinguished from small forms of S. fistidosa by the broader 

 and shorter fertile section. Now and again a bifid frond occurs on one of 

 these plants. 



S. dicltotoma Swartz is not uncommon in kauri forests, but really good 

 specimens are rare. I have two local ones, 14 in. and 18 in. long, but such 

 finds are unusual. 



27. Lygodium Swartz. 



L. artiodatinu A. Rich, is abundant in forests, often climbing by its slender 

 wiry stems to the tops of tall foiest-trees. In its juvenile form it does re- 

 semble a fern, though it has an unusual appearance ; but when it covers a 

 tall shrub with its graceful fronds, or forms a light-green curtain 50 ft. or 

 more long, hanging from a tall tree, it has a most unfernlike appearance. 



28. Todea Willd. 



Two of the three species recorded occur. 



T. barbara Moore and T. hymenophylloides A. Rich. : Of these, the 

 former is a true Todea ; the latter is more frequently classed, as is also 

 T. superba Col., with the genus Leptopteris. 



T. barbara is a denizen of the moorlands of the extreme north of the 

 North Island, extending in its habitat from the North Cape to the neigh- 

 bourhood of Whangaroa. It is found in considerable quantities, in open 



* " Some Noteworthy New Zealand Ferns," Cockayne, p. 55. 



