82 
New Zealand Ferns 
This is one of the rare ferns of the world; it repre- 
sents a genus of but one species ; by far the most inter- 
esting fern in New Zealand. This somewhat bald des- 
cription gives a very inadequate notion of the unique 
position held by this remarkable plant. By way of illus- 
tration, it might be supposed that, of the Order Ranu- 
culus, consisting of 30 genera, one, the clematis, was 
represented by a single species, found only in the north 
of New Zealand. That is to say, this beautiful family 
of climbers would be known to mankind only by this one 
species. In its way, Loxsoma is just as beautiful as 
Clematis, and it is known to the world only from this 
limited locality in the north of New Zealand. 
I shall never forget finding it for the first time. I had 
not been many months in New Zealand, and my only 
source of information about the ferns was represented 
by an album of dried specimens, which did not contain 
Loxsoma, so that it struck me with all the novely of an 
original discovery. On a journey from the Northern 
Wairoa to Auckland, I. arrived at Helensville several 
hours before the train left for Riverhead. Being young 
and full of zeal, I determined to walk across, a distance 
of 15 miles, in the hope of getting something new for my 
collection. I found absolutely nothing until crossing a 
small creek close to my destination. I can claim but little 
skill or sagacity in finding it, for the Loxsoma actually 
hit me in the face before I noticed anything unusual. A 
single glance told me it was something new, an examina- 
tion of the seeds that it was of a different genus from 
any fern I had seen. I called it “The Riverhead Fern." 
Many months elapsed before I met with anyone who 
could tell me its name. 
It is fairly easy to grow. The young stalks, of a pale 
tender green, rise from the ground, slowly uncurl until 
the first leaves appear, the whole frond maturing in due 
course. I know of no colour like that of the young' frond 
( Pteris incisa approaching it most nearly), a soft, eth- 
ereal pastel green, as if Nature had put in a little white 
