T. Kirk. — Botanical Notes. 367 



the cool temperate regions ; Labrador, Canada, the Eocky Mountains, 

 Colorado, etc., in America ; nearly all European countries, and in the 

 cooler parts of Asia. It is generally distributed through ' the British 

 Islands, where it ascends to 2,700 feet. 



A remarkable fact in the life-history of this species is the great length 

 of time which is required for the development of the frond before it rises 

 above the surface of the soil. On making a longitudinal section of a 

 mature stem the embryo frond for the ensuing year is seen to be sufficiently 

 advanced to allow of the sterile and fertile portions being easily distin- 

 guished, the former being already coloured green at the tip, even the 

 pinnules can be recognized notwithstanding their rudimentary condition. 



Enclosed in the basal portion of this embryonic frond we find the 

 embryo for the second following year, and this again encloses the embryo 

 for the third year following. The embryo for the second year is differen- 

 tiated into sterile and fertile parts ; but the component parts of the frond 

 for the third year can scarcely be made out. It is only in the fourth year 

 that the fronds appear above ground. 



It should be added that the embryo fronds are arranged in an alter- 

 nating position so that if the frond destined to rise above ground next year 

 has the fertile portion directed to the right, the frond for the second follow- 

 ing year will have the panicle directed to the left. 



Attention was first directed to the lengthened period required for the 

 development of the fronds rather more than fifty years ago by the late W. 

 Wilson of Warrington, the well-known bryologist. 



Art. XXX.— Botanical Notes/" By T. Kirk, P.L.S 

 [Read before the Wellington Philosophical Society, l&th November, 1883.] 

 The Parapara. 

 Pisonia umbellifera, Seeman. 



(Ceodes umbellifera, Forst.) 

 (P. sinclairii, Hook, f.) 

 This plant is found in several localities north of Whangarei, both on the east 

 and west coasts ; also on the Taranga Islands, Arid Island, Little Barrier 

 Island, and on the East Cape : in the last-named locality, possibly planted 

 by the Maoris. 



It attains its greatest luxuriance on the west coast, north of Hokianga, 

 where it forms a tree ; in other localities it forms a shrub, rarely more than 

 10 feet high, — usually from 4-7 feet. When growing entirely in the 



* These notes accompanied specimens in illustration of art. xxviii. 



