116 The Biology of the Lowland Plants. 
and pliant and frequently wind not only round the host but round themselves 
Both species show most remarkable heterophyliy there being three distinct 
leaf-forms at different stages of the plant’s development. 
The adult leaves of the winding lianes consist of: — Compound ı, sim- 
ple ı2, thick or coriaceous 4, thin 9, glabrous ı0, hairy 3, glossy 2, waxy 
beneath ı, very small 2, small 7, medium 3 and large ı. 
Tendril-climbers. 
This class contains only the 8 species of Clematis and the monotypic 
Tetrapathaea australis. All are lianes with comparatively slender much branch- 
ing stems draping low trees and shrubs, rather than lofty climbers. Teira- 
pathaea is in habit and appearance very similar to Parsonsia heterophylla, 
forming dense masses of flexible, slender branches bearing abundant dark- 
green, glossy, somewhat coriaceous, ovate-lanceolate, acuminate leaves some 
AR 
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ei 
Se 
5 cm long. The tendrils, at first straight and soft, and slightly curved near 
their apices, finally become stout and wiry. The species of Clematis form a 
series of transitions from a thin-leaved mesophyte by way of sub-xerophytes 
with much-cut reduced leaves to the leafless juncoid C. afoliata, which forms 
either rounded strongly entangled masses of slender, green, DR stems on 
the ground or climbs over low trees or shrubs. 
d. Epiphytes. 
In this section all the members of the class, excepting the purely coastal 
epiphytes, are dealt with. Strictly speaking, an epiphyte is a plant that should“ 
be invariably found seated upon another. This, in New Zealand, is true only 
for certain ferns, almost all Hymenophyllaceae, Brrapkiites, lichens and a very 
limited number of spermophytes. These latter are nearly always to be found 
also on rocks and some are common ground-plants. Thus Senecio Kirkü, a 
 shrub 3.6m high, somewhat candelabrum-like in form, with slender, spreading 
branches and dark-green, soft, rather fleshy, lanceolate leaves some 7 cm long 
puts roots to the ground ; as its. water-balance fails, these eventually surrounc 
a the host, re it to death, growing er or less .. a solid mass and functi 
About 38 species en to 8 Einsikee And 18 genera ı may be consid 
I ; epiphyus. ‚Their Pe are: ei Slar fern 13; tufted fern 5; c 
Es Bee orehid. 6 werben a sack 23  prostrate su 
