30 Transactions. 



The curious scrambling, almost liane-like form occasionally assumed 

 by P. Uquilina when growing in the shade has been referred to by Dr. 

 Cockayne.* 



P. i rem ula R. Br. attains its greatest luxuriance when growing in damp, 

 shaded, lowland woods. When well grown it stands 5-6 ft. high before 

 the fronds droop gracefully outward. 



P. macilenta A. Rich., like the above, grows most luxuriantly in damp 

 lowland woods; but it occurs also in the forests, not only in shaded gullies, 

 but on the drier slopes, and even among comparatively dry rocks. It is 

 the most variable species of the genus. Two iorms only are described in 

 the Manual, the type and var. pendula (Col.) Oheesem., but there is another 

 common and distinct form, usually occurring among rocks in the higher 

 parts of the forest. It is much more slender than the type, with the primary 

 pinnae fewer and more distant, 2 4 in. long ; secondary pinnae 1-1 1 in. 

 long ; pinnules J-| in. less deeply incised. It often occurs associated 

 with the typical form, and has certainly a very distinct appearance, 

 though doubtless there are intermediate forms connecting it with the 

 type. 



Some years ago I gathered in the bush on my farm a very unusual form 

 ■rchich approaches very closely to P. comans. Referring to this in a letter, 

 Mr. Cheeseman writes, " P. macilenta in its ordinary or typical form is 

 verv distinct from P. comans; but Colenso's P. pendula is about half-way 

 between, and what you seno 1 is still nearer." 



P. comans Foist, is by no means common, occurring, as a rule, on the 

 coast. 



P. incisa Thunb. : This beautiful fern is common throughout. It 

 thrives best in damp, lowland woods. 



16. Lomaria Willd. 



Fourteen species in New Zealand botanical area, of which nine species 

 occur in this district. 



Ferns of this family are noticeable from the fact that the fertile fronds 

 differ eonsiderablv from the sterile. As a rule, the pinnae of the. fertile 

 fronds are narrow-linear, and frequently the entire under-surface is con- 

 cealed by the sori. Many species develop a more or less erect caudex. 



L. discolor Willd. is plentiful in forests, preferring the shady, moist 

 parts. The fronds, rising obliquely from the outer edge of the upper part 

 of the caudex, give the plant a striking resemblance to a crown. 



L. lanceolata Spreng. is essentially a fern of the shade, forming graceful 

 festoons on the banks of forest creeks. 



L. BanJcsii Hook. f. is found only on the coast, where it thrives on 

 dripping rocks. I know of only two stations in this district where it occurs, 

 both on the west coast. 



L. capensis Willd. is abundant in all situations. This fern is so variable 

 in form and size that at first it is difficult to believe that the small forms 

 found in swamps or on dry clay banks, with fronds often only a few inches 

 long, can belong to the same species as the huge specimens growing on 

 moist cliffs in shaded ravines, or on creek-banks in dark forest gullies, with 

 fronds 8-10 ft. long. 



*"Some Noteworthy New Zealand Ferns," L. Cockayne, "The Plant World," 

 vol. 15, No. .'!. p. 58, 1912. 



