346 Transactions. — Botany. 



to identify the form generally known to New Zealand botanists as " lanata " 

 by the aid of the diagnosis oi ^'- antarctica'^ given in "Synopsis filiciim," 

 although the former is quoted as a synonym. 



Dichsonia antarctica, the wekiponga of the Maoris, is a fine arborescent 

 fern, in these islands attaining the height of from 10 to 20 feet or more, 

 with the trunk clothed with a dense covering of fibrous, matted rootlets so 

 that it is sometimes 18 inches in diameter (in Australia it attains the height of 

 40 ft., with a diameter of 4 ft.), presenting a peculiar, massive, and columnar 

 appearance, by which it is at once recognized. Fronds spreading, lanceolate, 

 4 to 8 ft. in length, and from 8 to 18 inches in width; stipes extremely short, 

 the dead fronds being persistent and completely shrouding the upper part of 

 the stem, coriaceous, and of a peculiarly harsh, thin texture, green beneath ; 

 primary divisions 5 to 9 inches in length, narrowed into long points, segments 

 acutely toothed, oblong. Barren fronds similar to the fertile. 



At Ohinemutu a small group of specimens of this form may be seen 

 growing in an exposed rocky situation on the banks of the lake. Yet 

 notwithstanding their depauperated condition the distinctive characters are as 

 strongly marked as in the largest specimens on the adjacent hills. There is 

 not the slightest approach to the appearance of D. lanata when growing under 

 similar conditions. 



In D, lanata the caudex is usually wanting, and is never more than from 

 4 to 5 ft. in height ; it never produces matted rootlets, except as in all tree- 

 ferns at the very base, so that the attached portions of the old stipes are 

 visible from the root to the apex ; fronds arched, ascending, 1 to 5 ft. in 

 length, broadly lanceolate or elliptic, 1 to 2|^ feet broad, abruptly acuminate ; 

 stipes at least half the length of the frond ; lower primary divisions oblong- 

 deltoid, upper oblong, abruptly acuminate, not narrowed into long points, very 

 coriaceous ; segments broadly oblong, obtusely toothed ; the base of the stipe 

 clothed with long jointed hairs, much more luxuriant than in D, antarctica ; 

 rachis glabrous or sparingly pubescent ; sori larger and more prominent than 

 in D. antarctica. Barren fronds, with the pinnse deltoid ; segments coriaceous, 

 lobulate or pinnatifid, obtusely toothed, w^hitish below. 



From the preceding brief statement it will, I think, be readily granted 

 that the difference between the two forms is too great to allow of their 

 being lumped together without at least some mention of their prominent 

 characteristics, more especially as their distribution in these islands exhibits 

 mai'ked peculiarities. 



D. antarctica is found from Tauranga to Otago, and is most abundant in 

 the forests of the interior, ascending to about 3,000 feet. 



D. lanata is found from Mongonui to Nelson, and does not occur at above 

 2,000 feet. 



