336 Transactions.— Botany. 
disposed to incur the risk of descending their steep sides and slipping into 
water of a temperature much above 200° Fahr. Many of these springs 
yielded clear water, in others it was slightly turbid ; but, unlike the springs 
of Rotomahana, there was no incrustation. All the springs discharge into 
the bed of the stream, which in the upper part is confined by rocky banks, 
between which the boiling river forces its way with great impetuosity, giving 
off clouds of vapour. A short distance below the springs the stream is crossed 
by a natural bridge, from which a charming view is obtained of the rushing 
torrent. . 
In no other locality in the district are the effects of a moist, warm 
atmosphere on vegetation so forcibly shown. The rocky banks of the stream 
and the sides of the boiling wells are abundantly clothed with a growth of 
Lycopodium cernuum, varying in luxuriance with the temperature to which 
it is exposed ; flourishing where the temperature varies from 70° to 95° 
but forming dwarf compact masses covered with depauperated spikes at a 
higher degree. Pteris scaberula is abundant on the banks of the stream, but 
except in cool situations is excessively depauperated, forming a striking 
contrast with the luxuriant P. incisa, which flourishes in the heated steam. 
Gymnostomum tortile and other mosses exhibit a peculiar elongated and 
attenuated appearance, widely different from their normal forms, and do not 
produce fruit. 
The tropical Nephrodium molle occurs sparingly in this, its only New 
Zealand habitat, evincing a decided preference for the sides of the deepest and 
least accessible boiling wells, but also growing in situations where it must 
experience a greatly reduced temperature, occasionally the pinne were singu- 
larly rounded and abbreviated, but covered with sori. The texture of its 
fronds is so extremely delicate that they are bruised by a light shower. 
Nephrolepis cordifolia, Baker, is found in great abundance chiefly amongst 
moss by the banks of the stream ; in the excessively high temperature in the 
immediate vicinity of the boiling springs the fronds are not above six inches 
in length, and of a peculiar strict and rigid habit of growth, producing sori 
but sparingly ; lower down the stream the fronds are more than two feet in 
length and of elegant habit, producing sori freely ; the wiry, fibrous roots 
never produce tubers, as is the case in Mexico and Brazil. 
Gleichenia dichotoma, Willd., is plentiful about the boiling wells in places 
where the roots have the advantage of a high temperature, but does not occur 
on the lower parts of the creek. J, ephrodium unitum, Br., is found sparingly 
about the springs and in the swamp below, but in nothing like the profusion | 
it exhibits at Rotomahana and other places. 
Fimbristylis dichotoma, Vahl., occurs sparingly, but is probably of very 
recent introduction by travellers from Rotorua. 
