Smith. — Note on a hratichcd Nikau Tree. 357 



Hab. Pirongia Mouutain, not uiicominou above 2,200 feet alt, ; Karioi 

 Mountain, near the summit of the highest peaks, alt. 2,300 feet. 



From the above description it will be seen that the species is closely 

 allied to the variable and widely distributed P. hillardieri, but from all the 

 forms of this plant it can readily be distinguished by the rhizome being 

 densely clothed with shaggy spreading scales entirely different in appearance 

 from the closely appressed squamae with which the rhizome of P. hillardieri 

 is furnished. It is also a larger plant, the fronds being often over 2 feet 

 in height ; the lobes are far more numerous and much narrower ; the 

 venation is more indistinct, the texture thinner, and the sori smaller. In 

 addition, I failed to observe any tendency to the polymorphism of the fronds 

 so well marked in both P. hillardieri and its near ally P. imstulatuin. All 

 the plants seen had their fronds uniformly lobed in a pinnate manner as 

 described above, and simple-fronded specimens could not be found. I 

 should perhaps mention that the ordinary forms of P. hillardieri and P. 

 jmstidat'um were abundant in the same locality ; indeed, the three plants 

 could be seen growing side by side. 



Note. — 22nd December, 1877. Since writing the above I have been 

 informed that a new Polyijodium has been recently discovered by Mr. H. 

 C. Field in the forest country to the west of Euapehu. Not having seen 

 specimens I am unable to state positively that Mr. Field's plant is the same 

 as mine, but from the description given to me I have but little doubt that 

 the two are identical. 



Aet. XLIX. — Note on a hranched Nikau Tree. By S. Percy Smith. 



Plate XV. 

 [Read before the Auckland Institute, 22nd October, 1877.] 

 The following short note has reference to a nikau palm, which in its manner 

 of growth presents some features of an abnormal character. It was dis- 

 covered by one of the survey parties growing in the forests at the base of 

 the Tangihua Mountains, Whangarei, and it was on a late visit to that 

 district that I had an opportunity of seeing this vegetable curiosity. 



Most people are acquainted with the ordinary nikau palm (Areca sapida) 

 of New Zealand, with its smooth cylindrical stem encircled with equal rings 

 of annual growth, and surmounted with a luxuriant crown of wide- spreading 

 leaves. The stem is nearly always quite straight without branch or knot 

 or bend in it to spoil its symmetry. The subject of this note, however, has 

 eleven separate and distinct branches growing from one parent stem, most 



