HISTORY OF INTRODUCTION OF EXOTIC FERNS. 41 
consider it as a distinct species 'without further 
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 Cunninghamii, found by Cunningham on the 
Keri Keri River, Bay of Islands, and by Sinclair on 
the Wangarei River, 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. 
