DESCRIPTIONS OF N.Z. FERNS. 153 



is approaching maturity, in which case the joints will part, rather than flatten or straighten 

 out. It is, however, a very easy fern to cultivate, and will grow in almost any soil, 

 though it will repay good soil by increased luxuriance. It should, however, have some 

 sticks or a trellis to climb upon, in order to show it properly. It is confined to the 

 northern portion of the North Island, not apparently extending south of the thirty- 

 eighth parallel of latitude or thereabouts, though, as I have already stated, it is said to 

 have been found at Rangitikei some years ago. I have also heard it called " Lygodium 

 scandens," a name, however, that would apply to any fern of the genus, as they all 

 climb trees in the same manner ; and plants of the genus are found throughout the 

 Tropics, and as far north as Japan. 



SUB-ORDER MARATTIACEJE (Ma-rat-te-a-ce-ge) 

 Is distinguished by having its capsules opening by a slit down one side, or a pore at 

 the apex, without a ring ; usually joined together, in concrete masses, in vessels called 

 " synangia." These synangia are divided into two halves, which separate longi- 

 tudinally when ripe, and each half contains several transverse cells or chambers, 

 in which the capsules are enclosed. The whole arrangement is so different from a 

 sorus that .some botanists consider the Marratias a distinft class of plants from ferns. 



GENUS MARATTIA (Ma-rat-te-a), 

 Named after Signor Maratti, an Italian botanist who took great interest in ferns, has 

 its capsules sessile or stalked, and packed, four to twelve together, in boat-shaped 

 synangia, which contain two opposite rows of capsules, and open by slits down their 

 inner faces. The sub-genus " Eumarattia " has the synangia furnished with an obscure 

 fimbriated inferior involucre. New Zealand has but one plant of this genus, -viz : — 



MARATTIA FRAXINEA. (Ma-rat-te-a frax-in-e-a.) 



"PARA," "PARA REKA," OR " PARA TAWHITI " OF THE MAORIS. 



"HORSE-SHOE FERN" OF EUROPEANS. 



PLATE XXV., Ko. 5. 



This fern is found in Guinea, Angola, Zambesi-land, the Mascaren Islands, Natal, 

 Cape Colony, the Neilgherries, Ceylon, Philippines, Malacca, Polynesia, Queensland, 

 and Norfolk Island, as well as in New Zealand. It was formerly plentiful in the North 

 Island, where its tuberous roots formed an important article of food, and cause the 

 Natives to assert that they had a potato before Captain Cook visited the Colony. 

 The wild pigs, however, have nearly exterminated it, so that it is only now found in a 

 few localities, extending from the North Cape to a little south of Mount Egmont. 

 The southernmost point at which I know of its occurring in any quantity, at present 

 is beside the Kapoaiaia stream near Pungarehu, but thirty-five years ago it was not 

 uncommon as far south as Waitotara, and as I have already mentioned, I know of one 

 small patch at Rangitikei. It is also called " Marattia salicina." 



