Cuerseman.—On the Botany of the Pirongia Mountain. 819 
wholly composed of magnificent tawas (Nesodaphne tawa). Nowhere have 
I seen taller or better-grown specimens, and their cool shade was most 
acceptable after the hot and dusty tramp over the fern-hills from Alexandra. 
Mixed up with tawas are scattered rimus (Dacrydium cupressinum), kahi- 
kateas (Podocarpus dacrydioides), and ratas (Metrosideros robusta). The 
last-named tree is much more common on the northern side of the moun- 
tain, and on the spurs above Harapipi forms a large proportion of the bush. 
Dysoxylum, Tetranthera, Knightia and Santalum are all comparatively plen- 
tiful. The undergrowth is principally composed of Coprosma lucida and 
C. grandifolia, Drimys axillaris, Alseuosmia macrophylla, fern trees, and 
several species of Gahnia and Astelia. Here and there thickets of the 
climbing Freycinetia banksii are met with, while **supple-jacks" (Rhipo- 
gonum), and mange-mange (Lygodium articulatum), are abundant enough. 
Nor are the climbing species of Metrosideros (M. florida, M. hypericifolia, 
M. scandens), or the prickly tataramoa (Rubus australis) at all rare. 
Little change takes place in the vegetation until an altitude of 1200 feet 
is reached, when the tawa becomes much less plentiful, its place being 
gradually taken by Weinmannia racemosa, Quintinia serrata, and Ixerba 
brexioides. Melicytus lanceolatus was noticed in one or two localities. Here, 
the first specimens of a new Polypodium (P. novae-zealandie, Baker, ms.) 
were collected.* It is usually found on rotten logs, rarely growing on the 
ground, and was not seen climbing trees, like its near allies P. billardieri 
and P. pustulatum. The rhizome, so conspicuous from its shaggy coating 
of chestnut-brown scales, is often as thick as the thumb, while fronds were 
measured (including the stipes) nearly five feet in height, with upwards of 
twenty pairs of pinne. It is abundant over the whole of the higher portion 
of the mountain. 
Above 1500 feet much of the undergrowth is composed of Coprosma 
fetidissima, well known to bushmen in the south of the Island from its 
disgustingly fcetid smell when bruised, or even handled. This is the first 
record of its occurrence to the north of the East Cape. Possibly Pirongia 
is its northern limit on the west coast, but on the east it has a more 
extensive range, as it occurs in profusion on the plateau above the Wairere 
Falls in the Thames Valley, and, according to Maori authority, is also 
found on Te Aroha. Two other species of Coprosma are associated with it 
on Pirongia; but, in the absence of flowers and fruit, they cannot be safely 
identified. One is a small, densely branched shrub, 2-5 feet high, with 
oblong or obovate leaves 1 inch in length, and may perhaps be a large form 
of C. colensoi. The other is a tall, slender shrub, with much of the habit 
of C. grandifolia, but with smaller, narrower, more acuminate leaves, very 
* See Trans. N.Z. Inst., X., p. 356. 
