HISTOET or INTRODUCTION OF EXOTIC FEENS. 41 



consider it as a distinct species without furtlier 

 evidence^ though it is worthy of remark that the 

 specimens seen by that author were partly from the 

 Samoan, and partly from the Fijian group ; and it is 

 possible that the two forms are separated geographi- 

 cally, as well as by their technical characters. Did 

 space permit many others might be indicated^— not 

 only from these islands, but from other Polynesian 

 groups ; though, as far as it is at present known, the 

 Fern Flora is very uniform in species throughout. 

 New Caledonia, the Soloman Isles, and others, have 

 not, however, yet been well explored, either by 

 botanical or horticultural collectors. 



As might be expected from the great intercourse 

 that -has been carried on of late years between this 

 country and New Zealand, the greater part of the 

 Ferns indigenous to that colony are now to be found 

 in our half-hardy ferneries, only about 20^ — a small 

 number — out of the 120 species described by Dr. 

 Hooker in his "Handbook of the New Zealand 

 Flora," remaining to be introduced. One especially I 

 should be glad to see in a living state : viz.^ the 

 remarkable as well as handsome and very rare 

 Loxsoma Ounninghamii, found by Cunningham on the 

 Keri Keri. River, Bay of Islands, and by Sinclair on 

 the Wangarei Eiver, in the Northern Island. This 

 Fern possesses the habit of a Microlepia, and has 

 broadly triangular decompound fronds, two to three 

 feet high, glaucous below, with sori intermediate 

 in character between Trichomanes and Davallia.* 

 The Tasmanian Ferns are likewise nearly all intro- 



* This Fern was introduced, but has not become established. 



