Surru.— Note on a branched Nikau Tree. 957 
Hab. Pirongia Mountain, not uncommon above 2,200 feet alt.; Karioi 
Mountain, near the summit of the highest peaks, alt. 2,800 feet. 
From the above description it will be seen that the species is closely 
allied to the variable and widely distributed P. billardieri, but from all the 
forms of this plant it can readily be distinguished by the rhizome being 
densely clothed with shaggy spreading scales entirely different in appearance 
from the closely appressed squams with which the rhizome of P. billardieri 
is furnished. It is also a larger plant, the fronds being often over 2 feet 
in height; the lobes are far more numerous and much narrower ; the 
venation is more indistinct, the texture thinner, and the sori smaller. In 
addition, I failed to observe any tendency to the polymorphism of the fronds 
so well marked in both P. billardieri and its near ally P. pustulatum. All 
the plants seen had their fronds uniformly lobed in a pinnate manner as 
described above, and simple-fronded specimens could not be found. I 
should perhaps mention that the ordinary forms of P. billardieri and P. 
pustulatum were abundant in the same locality ; indeed, the three plants 
could be seen growing side by side. i 
Norg.—22nd December, 1877. Since writing the above I have been 
informed that a new Polypodium has been recently discovered by Mr. H. 
C. Field in the forest country to the west of Ruapehu. Not having seen 
specimens I am unable to state positively that Mr. Field's plant is the same 
as mine, but from the deseription given to me I have but little doubt that 
the two are identieal. 
Arr. XLIX.—Note on a branched Nikau Tree. By S. Percy Suma. 
Plate XV. 
[Read before the Auckland Institute, 22nd October, 1877.] 
Tue following short note has reference to a nikau palm, which in its manner 
of growth presents some features of an abnormal character. It was dis- 
covered by one of the survey parties growing in the forests at the base of 
the Tangihua Mountains, Whangarei, and it was on a late visit to that 
district that I had an opportunity of seeing this vegetable curiosity. 
Most people are acquainted with the ordinary nikau palm ( Areca sapida) 
of New Zealand, with its smooth cylindrical stem encircled with equal rings 
of annual growth, and surmounted with a luxuriant crown of wide-spreading 
leaves. The stem is nearly always quite straight without branch or knot 
or bend in it to spoil its symmetry. The subject of this note, however, has 
eleven separate and distinct branches growing from one parent stem, most 
