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 Botomahana, 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 j flourishing where the temperature varies from 70° to 95° 

 but forming dwarf compact masses covered with depauperated spikes at a 

 higher degree. Fteris scaherula is abundant on the banks of the stream, but 

 except in cool situations is excessively depauperated, forming a striking 

 contrast with the luxuriant F. 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 j!^e2?hrodium moUe 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 pinnae 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. 

 Nepliroleins 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 

 w^here the roots have the advantage of a high temperature, but does not occur 

 on the lower parts of the creek. JVephrodium unitum, Br., is found sparingly 

 about the springs and in the swamp below, but in nothing like the profusion 

 it exhibits at Botomahana and other places. 



Fimbristylis dichotoma, Yahl., occurs sparingly, but is probably of very 

 recent introduction by travellers from Botorua. 



