S20 Transactions. — Botany. 



finely reticulate beneath. This may prove to he G. acutifolia, or a close ally. 

 Panax is a genus well represented on Pirongia. Besides P. arboreum and 

 P. c7'assif'olium, which are found all over the mountain, P. edgerleyi occurs 

 in abundance on the higher slopes. In fohage it is one of the handsomest 

 of the New Zealand species, and should be much more frequently seen in 

 cultivation than it is at present. P. sinclairii is also of frequent occur- 

 rence. It had not been previously noticed to the north of Lake Taupo, the 

 habitat of " Auckland," given in the " Handbook," being clearly erroneous. 

 P. colensoi is not so common as either of the above, and is seldom seen far 

 h'om the higher peaks. 



Ferns are principally confined to the deep gullies, where they occur in 

 luxuriant profusion. In rocky places, the banks of the streams are fringed 

 for long distances with Lomaria elongata. Dark and gloomy places form 

 the favourite habitat for Lomaria nigra, while in drier and more open locali- 

 ties Ijomaria vulcanica is occasionally seen. Trichovianes strictum is abun- 

 dant ; while overhanging trees are loaded with the various species of 

 tlymeno2:)liyllum. On dry rocky banks Polypodium australe is more abun- 

 dant than in any other locality known to me, and attains an unusually large 

 size. It is commonly associated with Lindsaya trichomanoides. Our guide 

 informed us that large patches of the para (Marattiafraxinea) are to be found 

 in the deeper gullies, and that the Maoris often make expeditions to obtain 

 its starchy rhizome. I did not, however, myself observe the plant. In 

 boggy places, near the summit, extensive clumps of Todea superha were 

 noticed : the most northern locality yet recorded for this magnificent 

 species. Dicksonia lanata occurs on some of the slopes near the summit, 

 but nowhere shows any sign of producing an erect caudex, in this respect 

 agreeing with specimens found in similar localities on the Cape Colville 

 Penmsula. It may here be mentioned that Dicksonia antarctica probably 

 occm-s on the lower portion of the mountain, as it is plentiful towards the 

 upper part of the Waitetuna VaUey, some of the tributaries of which rise 

 on the north-western flank of Pirongia. Several years ago Mr. W. J. 

 Palmer observed it between Lake Waihi and Ngaruawahia, and quite 

 recently the same gentleman has discovered it in abundance to the west of 

 Lake Whangape, at present the most northerly locality known. 



Some distance below the summit, the tawa and rata and others of the 

 lowland trees disappear entirely; Ixerba hrexioides and Weimnannia racemosa 

 now being the predominant species. Oriselinia littoralis and Metrosideros 

 lucida are also plentifid. Eocky places were covered with the creeping 

 Callixene parvijiora, a charming little plant with waxy white flowers and 

 berries. Libertia micrantha, which is found over the greater part of the 

 mountain, is here excessively abundant. A few specimens of CJiiloglottis 



