HorLowav.—Studies in the New Zealand Hymenophyllaceae. 87 
degree in the North Island, the lowland species generally have a much 
wider altitudinal range than in Westland, while, on the other hand, 
the northward. The dry south-west wind is a characteristic feature of the 
climate, being, on the whole, the most frequently occurring wind throughout 
the year. On the east of Nelson the ranges are from 2,000 ft. to 4,000 ft. 
in height, and are clothed to the summits with southern-beech forest. The 
Hymenophyllaceae occur mainly in the gullies and on the shady south- 
facing slopes. Here the lowland species ascend far higher than in Westland, 
H. dilatatum, H. scabrum, T. reniforme, H. sa uinolentum, and H. Tun- 
bridgense attaining on rock-faces on the shady flanks, both in more open 
situations as well as in the gullies, an altitude of at least 3,000 ft. The 
bases and fallen logs. On the highest ridges and peaks o . villosum 
and H. multifidum are present. In the Nelson forests generally the more 
hilous lowland species H. australe and ineum are ve 
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where the lowland species are altogether confined to the lower more sheltered 
reaches, even there being found on rock-faces rather than as epiphytes, 
while, on the other hand, the wider-ranging species mentioned above are 
abundant on the floor in the upper parts of the gullies, where these open 
out at an altitude of 1,500 ft. and upwards under the ridges and hill- 
shoulders. The dampness of the forest-floor at the higher altitudes in such 
valleys will be due to the sea-mists which frequently gather against the 
hillsides in the vicinity of Nelson, and this effect will be still more marked 
on the shaded mountain-sides on to which, as has been described above, 
the lowland species are able to ascend. 
