Carse. — Ferns and Fern Allies of Mangonui County. 79 



Another and smaller form occurs in the forest, usually on decaying 

 masses of Asteliads which have fallen from the upper branches of trees. 

 As this is also a favourite habitat of Polypodium punctaium, a careful 

 examination is necessary to make sure as to which fern it is. 



A third and very distinct form, though undoubtedly connected by 

 intermediates, occurs in open damp land, often on the edge of a swamp, in 

 full sunshine. This form is less robust as a rule, almost glabrous, and 

 paler in colour, but usually the reflexed tip of the lobule is clearly marked. 



H. distans Hook, is nowhere common, though scattered through the 

 forest district, often, like Polypodimn punctatum, growing on decaying 

 vegetable matter. In damp shady parts of the forest it often attains much 

 greater dimensions than are given in the Manual, which says, " Stipes, 

 3-9 in. long ; fronds, 6-15 in. long, 3-6 in. broad." Here it is not un- 

 common to find it with stipes 9-12 in. ; frond, 24—36 in. long, 9-12 in. 

 broad. 



It is not uncommon for this handsome slender fern, when growing in 

 great luxuriance, to assume the habit of a climber, twining itself for support 

 round more robust plants among which it grows. 



13. Cheilanthes Swartz. 



Two species, one of which (C. Sieberi Kunze) is found here and there 

 on dry rocks. 



14. Pellaea Link. 



There are two species of this fern in New Zealand, both of which are 

 found in Mangonui County. 



P. falcata Fee. has so far only been noticed in the vicinity of Kaitaia, 

 where Mr. H. B. Matthews discovered it. 



P. rotundifolia Hook, is plentiful, not in dry woods, as stated in the 

 Manual, but chiefly in damp low-lying woods subject to inundation. 



15. Pteris Linn. 



The whole of the six species mentioned in the Manual occur in the 

 district. 



P. aquilina Linn, var esculenta Hook. f. covers vast areas where forests 

 have been cleared and grasses have been sown insufficiently or have died 

 out. This fern springs up in countless thousands on neglected burns. 

 Probably before this country was settled by white people the area occupied 

 by this now almost ubiquitous pest was very much more restricted. 



' Fern-root," the starchy rhizome of this plant, was at one time an 

 important part of the vegetable food of the Maori, but it is to be noted 

 that it was not all or any of the plants that were used. Certain places 

 became noted for " roi" the edible rhizome. Probably some difference or 

 peculiarity of soil or situation rendered one particular patch more suitable 

 than others, though I have failed to detect any structural differences in 

 plants from these chosen spots. 



It is also worthy of note that pigs enclosed on a patch of fern per- 

 sistently neglect certain plants, though their rhizomes appear quite as 

 succulent and as well developed as those they greedily devour. 



P. scaberula A. Eich. occurs plentifully in dry open woods, but more 

 particularly on exposed places, such as roadside cuttings and old landslips, 

 where it forms a dense covering, almost to the exclusion of other vegetation. 



