— Ill — 



native to the two areas are concerned. The numerous varieties 

 found here have been classified to some extent into sections which 

 is a great aid and guide in naming new ones, but much remains 

 to be done yet in systematizing nomenclature. The plumose types 

 of varieties, for instance, characterized by great foliar develop- 

 ment correlated with entire or partial barrenness exemplified in 

 Polypodium vulgare f. cambricum, in Scolopendrium vulgare f. 

 crispum, Nephrolepis rufescens f. tripinnatifida, Asplcnium tri- 

 chomancs f. incision, and others, ranking, as we see in each case, 

 under a different name though one and all would be best de- 

 scribed as plumosum or plumosa as the case may be, thus at once 

 conveying to the mind the particular associate characters common 

 to all. 



Acton, London, W . England. 



NEW ZEALAND FERNS AND FERN STUDY. 



By George E. Smith. 



In consenting to send you a few notes on the Ferns of New 

 Zealand, I must say that I do so with great diffidence, as I feel 

 that I am very incompetent and unfitted in many ways to do jus- 

 tice to so important a subject; still as I think we should all try to 

 spread a knowledge of these beautiful plants, I shall make no 

 further apology, but only crave indulgence for the errors I fail 

 into while trying to tell you something of the ferns of New 

 Zealand. 



New Zealand in proportion to its size is rich in ferns, and 

 their allies, and considering their profusion might well be termed 

 a fern paradise, some 130 species and about 16 varieties being 

 found here, together with 12 or 13 varieties of Lycopods — truly a 

 very generous contribution to the world's list. In possessing some 

 of these the islands can lay claim to special providence. Here 

 may be found TricJwmancs Arnistrongii, said to be the smallest 

 fern in the world, and whose full size does not exceed half an 

 inch. The lordly tree ferns, again claim attention, attaining as 

 they do, the height of 40 feet with drooping fronds 20 feet long. 

 Lygodium articulatum, the climbing fern, grows to the top of high 



