320 Transactions.— Botany. 
finely reticulate beneath. This may prove to be C. acutifolia, or a close ally. 
Panax is a genus well represented on Pirongia. Besides P. arboreum and 
P. crassifoliwn, which are found all over the mountain, P. edgerleyi occurs 
in abundance on the higher slopes. In foliage it is one of the handsomest 
of the New Zealand species, and should be much more frequently seen in 
cultivation than it is at present. P. sinclairii is also of frequent occur- 
rence. It had not been previously noticed to the north of Lake Taupo, the 
habitat of * Auckland,” given in the ** Handbook," being clearly erroneous. 
P. colensoi is not so common as either of the above, and is seldom seen far 
from the higher peaks. 
Ferns are principally confined to the deep gullies, where they occur in 
luxuriant profusion. In rocky places, the banks of the streams are fringed 
for long distances with Lomaria elongata. Dark and gloomy places form 
the favourite habitat for Lomaria nigra, while in drier and more open locali- 
ties Lomaria vulcanica is occasionally seen. Trichomanes strictum is abun- 
dant; while overhanging trees are loaded with the various species of 
Hymenophyllum. On dry rocky banks Polypodium australe is more abun- 
dant than in any other loeality known to me, and attains an unusually large 
size. It is commonly associated with Lindsaya trichomanoides. Our guide 
informed us that large patches of the para ( Marattia frawinea ) are to be found 
in the deeper gullies, and that the Maoris often make expeditions to obtain 
its starchy rhizome. I did not, however, myself observe the plant. In 
boggy places, near the summit, extensive clumps of Todea superba were 
‘noticed: the most northern locality yet recorded for this magnificent 
species. Dicksonia lanata occurs on some of the slopes near the summit, 
but nowhere shows any sign of producing an erect caudex, in this respect 
agreeing with specimens found in similar localities on the Cape Colville 
Peninsula. It may here be mentioned that Dicksonia antarctica probably 
occurs on the lower portion of the mountain, as it is plentiful towards the 
upper part of the Waitetuna Valley, some of the tributaries of which rise 
on the north-western flank of Pirongia. Several years ago Mr. W. J. 
Palmer observed it between Lake Waihi and Ngaruawahia, and quite 
recently the same gentleman has discovered it in abundance to the west of 
Lake Whangape, at present the most northerly locality known. 
Some distance below the summit, the tawa and rata and others of the 
lowland trees disappear entirely; Ixerba brewioides and Weinmannia racemosa 
now being the predominant species. Griselinia littoralis and Metrosideros 
lucida are also plentiful. Rocky places were covered with the ereeping 
Callixene parviflora, a charming little plant with waxy white flowers and 
berries. Libertia micrantha, which is found over the greater part of the 
mountain, is here excessively abundant. A few specimens of Chiloglottis 
