HotLoway.—Studies in the New Zealand Hymenophyllaceae. 611 
2. The smallest species of all—viz., T. Colensoi, T. humile, T. venosum 
T. Lyallii, Н. rufescens, unbridgense . peltatum, and H. mi inimum— 
in which frond-modification has taken place probably more especially in the 
абсо of reduction, are restricted to special low epiphytic or rupestral 
stations. e tiny Н. Armstrongii is an exception, in that it ascends into 
the tree-tops. 
3. The species of T'richomanes have markedly a more restricted vertical 
range than those of Hymenophyllum, and occupy more specialized stations. 
The only exception to this is the ка ури Т. reniforme, which, in the 
multi-layered condition of its frond-lamina, and in its ability to inroll the 
frond closely, possesses special powers otn зае боной desiccation 
4. The species which show most — the epiphytie habit 
are those which have acquired, by elongation of the main rhachis and some- . 
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Н. Armstrongii, whose ко fronds are buried in and wetted by even the 
thinnest moss substratum 
5. The species which possess the greatest vertical range are those 
normally large-fronded epiphytes ас э are able to modify the entire 
growth-form by stunting of the frond, imbrication, and inrolling of the frond- 
segments, and by growing in close mats, and which are enabled through 
the possession of one or more of these modifications to 
tops. These M H. pc meri H. sanguinolentum, H. uin m, H. rarum, 
and Н. flabellatum. H. Armstrongiv has the same wide range, and, as has 
been indicated, is the only one ој абе small-growing species able to ascend 
higher than a low epiphytic station. None of the hairy-fronded species 
are high epiphytes, for H. villosum is only really villous at high altitudes, 
outside of the forest, and H. Malingii keeps to the low or mid epiphytic 
station. The frond of Н. flabellatum also only becomes villous at high 
altitudes 
6. Comparison of Table D (page 610) with es C (page 603) shows that 
the species which have the greatest vertical range in the forest are also those 
which have the greatest А етм range in Ws distri ct. There is, how- 
ever, one exception to this—viz., H. sanguinolentum, which does not ascend 
above 1,500 ft. ; and there are strong reasons for regarding Н. villosum as 
the mountain form of this species. The species which occupy in the low- 
lands and in the lower mountain-ravines a high epiphytic station become 
on the flanks of the mountains low epiphytes or even terrestrial plants. 
These conclusions have a certain bearing par the larger question of 
the Гараг of the family. With ез; to this it will be necessary first 
briefly er other sources of eviden 
From the майт» study of the uer ЕЗЙ of the different members 
of the family, Bower (4) concludes that the sporangia are larger and the 
contained number of spores higher in Hymenophyllum than in T'richomanes, 
a fact which points to the former genus being nearer the Simplices than the 
latter. The smaller number of spores per sporangium in Trichomanes 
compensated for in that genus by the extraordinary growth of the seats 
