Dec., 1923] CAMPBELL — AUSTRALASIAN BOTANICAL NOTES 519 
There are also several gymnospermous trees, viz., Podocarpus totara, P. 
ferruginea , Dacrydium cupressinum, and Phyllocladus trichomanioides , the 
latter a small tree with' peculiar flattened, leaf-like twigs (“cladodes”) 
looking like fern leaves. 
Where the forest is not too dense, there is a heavy growth of vegetation 
on the forest floor—huge tussocks of a coarse sedge ( Gahinia xanthocarpa ), 
and a somewhat similar plant, Astelia trinervis, of the Liliaceae, are common 
and conspicuous; ferns in great variety are seen on every side. Character¬ 
istic ferns of the Kauri forest are Blechnum Fraseri and Dicksonia lanata , 
large and handsome species, and the beautiful tree-fern Cyathea dealbata, 
easily recognized by the silvery under side of the leaves. The filmy ferns 
(Hymenophyllaceae) are common, but less noticeable than in the very wet 
rain-forest of the South Island. 
There are many fine shrubs, especially in the more open places. Among 
these Coprosma grandifolia, Panax arboreum, and Myrtus bullata are con¬ 
spicuous, and in some places the magnificent tree-fern Cyathea medullaris. 
The only palm native to the large islands of New Zealand is the “ Nikau ” 
(Rhopalostylis sapida), which is very abundant in the Kauri district. The 
smooth slender stem seldom exceeds 20 feet in height, and the stiff pinnate 
leaves form an upright tuft on the top. 
Lianas are not abundant in the Kauri forest. The climbing fern, 
Lygodium articulatum , is not uncommon but confines itself to the smaller 
trees and shrubs. Freycinetia banksii is also common, but does not always 
assume a climbing habit. 
Epiphytes are common on the smaller trees, but the smooth trunk of the 
Kauri does not afford a favorable foothold for most epiphytes. Metro- 
sideros robusta , which itself usually begins life as an epiphyte, is especially 
favored by other epiphytic growths, and the Nikau palm is a favorite host 
for one of the most conspicuous epiphytes, Astelia Solanderi, which forms 
great clumps of sword-shaped leaves, often completely encircling the 
slender trunk of the palm. A good many ferns are epiphytes, e.g ., most 
Hymenophyllaceae, Blechnum filiforme, several species of Polypodium and 
Asplenium; and of course there are many mosses, liverworts, and lichens. 
Epiphytic orchids are much less abundant than in the Australian rain¬ 
forest, and are all inconspicuous species. Perhaps the commonest is 
Dendrobium Cunninghamii. 
Among the interesting ferns of the North Island may be mentioned the 
following; Todea barbara , Schizaea dichotoma, Gleichenia circinnata, G. 
dicar pa. 
Where the forest has been cut away, two species of Leptospermum, L. 
scoparium and L. ericoides, quickly take possession of the cleared areas. 
This “manuka” scrub is a familiar feature of the New Zealand landscape. 
In the wetter open ground two other very characteristic plants cannot 
fail to attract attention. The “flax,” Phormium tenax, often covers exten- 
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