Sec. Lucidae Verd.

Plants robust, leaves taller than broad with a transverse insertion, cells of the mid-leaf not less than 20μ

F. ptychantha Mont.

Frullania rostrata (Tayl.) Syn. Hep.

Jung. rostrata Tayl., Lond. Journ. of Bot., 87, 1845; Fl. Ant., 163, 1847. Frullania rostrata, Syn. Hep., 415, 1844–47; Handb. N.Z. Fl., ii, 538, 1867; Spec. Hep., iv, 659, 1910.

Frullania. dissitifolia St., Spec. Hep., iv, 659, 1910.

Plants small, usually dioicous, sometimes monoicous, reddishbrown, sometimes darker or paler, occasionally greenish or green, corticolous, rarely on rocks, sometimes climbing through tufted bryophytes. Stems to ca. 3 cm., usually shorter, subpinnately or, in elongated forms, regularly pinnately branched, pinnae ca. 2 mm., sometimes longer with 1–2 pinnules. Stem leaves imbricate to remote, the latter may be 0·6 or 0·7 mm., but usually 0·4, on very slender stems even smaller, occasionally caducous, oval or oblong-oval, concave, apices incurved, sub-acute to apiculate; lobules oblong-pitcher-shaped, oblique, tilted somewhat with the mouth directed inwards, mouth often hyaline; stylus intravening between it and the stem, triangular to ca. 0·1 mm. tall, or reduced to a stylate tooth. Branch leaves similar but smaller, more crowded, more acute; lobules beautifully regular, not varying in size from those of the stem. Cells rounded-oblong, mostly all separate and usually in rows, becoming shorter and smaller towards the apex, and larger at the base, but not forming a distinct vitta as in F. aterrima. Stipules oval, may be broadly oval or circular, entire, or perhaps with an: undulation, or scarcely toothed, deeply bi-fid, segments obtuse to sub-acute, erect or slightly converging. Invol leaves oblong, incurved, apiculate, margins of lobules and stipules reflexed, entire. Perianth obovoid to narrow obovoid, normally triquetrous, dark to blackish, shining, faces often convex, but may be plicate with minor ridges. ± bracts in pairs from 2·6, on special, short ♀ branches.

F. congesta (Tayl.), Syn. Hep., the description of which appeared a year earlier, as represented by the type from Auckland Is., is a difficult species to deal with. It is closely related to F. rostrata, in that the stipules, lobules and colour are the same. The cells, however, are bigger than is usual in F. rostrata, and resemble in appearance those of F. ptychantha. The leaves, many of which have fallen off, are definitely imbricate and convex, but vary greatly in size, and stems and branches may bear both small and large (comparatively) ones. A plant from Stewart Island (W. M., 362) might be placed here, as it has leaves all equally imbricate, and similar cells.

The Handbook and Fl. Novae Zelandiae both record it from the mainland, but specimens nearest to it in appearance almost invariably turn out to be F. aterrima.

Localities for F. rostrata are as follows:

North Island: On tree trunk in manuka, on bark with Mastigophora, on manuka on hillside, Waipoua Forest, K. W. A.; on kauri bark, Waipoua Forest, Rangitoto Is., upper branches of totara, Pukemako (King Country), L. B. M.; Little Barrier Is., on Lepicolea sp., W. M. Hamilton; on taraire bark, Coromandel Range, A. L. H.; Ohakune Track, 3,000–4,000 ft., H. M. H.; on bark, near Ohakune Hut, 4,500 ft., mostly on bark, Whakapapa, 4 specimens, G. O. K. S.; amongst mosses on trees near Chateau, National Park, 3,000 ft., on manuka bark, near Atiamuri, 18 specimens, on manoao, near Opepe, on larch, Rotorua State Forest, on rotten log, Mangarewa Gorge (between Rotorua and Te Puke), on manuka, E. of Waiotapu and Kaingaroa Plains, on pine tree, Kaingaroa, on trunks of red beech, Pukerimu Bush, small tree in bushy gully, between L. Roto-iti and Coast, K. W. A.; Raukokore R. (B. of Plenty), G. O'Malley and G. O. K. S.; Maungapohatu (Urewera), B. Teague; Summit Ridge, Mt. Manuoha, G. O. K. S.; climbing on Chandonanthus squarrosus, on log, Waikare-iti, 3,000 ft.; plentiful on bark round L. Waikaremoana, Morere Bush, on bark, 2 specimens, bush at Maungapoike Falls (Wairoa), one on upper branches of tawa tree, 3 specimens, E. A. H.; on rocks of crater rim, amongst mosses, Mt. Tongariro, Mt. Egmont, L. B. M.; on bark in beech forest, Rangitikei V. (Kaimanawas), 3,000 ft., 13 specimens, A. P. D.; Birch Range (Kaweka), ca. 3,000 ft., E. S. West; beech bush, Tauruarau (Napier-Taihape Rd.), plentiful, on bark in bush, Taihape, E. A. H.; Wharite, 2,000 ft., A. P. D.; Peninsula (Tinui), R. W. Hewitt; Tauherenikau, Wairongomai R., 7236, V. D. Z.; Kapakapanui, 875, 861, 863, Akatarawa V., 926, Upper Hutt, 915, Mungaroa, 685, A. P. D.; on manuka, Southern Rimutakas, over 3,000 ft., on manuka, north-west L. Wairarapa Rd., on manuka trees on river flat, Orongorongo V., H. M. H.; Wilton's Bush, R. Mason.

South Island: Marlborough, 2 specimens, J. H. McMahon; on beech bark, L. Roto-iti, 2,100 ft., G. O. K. S.; Pelorus Bridge (Nelson), A. L. H.; Arthur's Pass, 4 (Bealey Track, Avalanche Peak), H. M. H.; Mingha V. (near Arthur's Pass), F. McD.; beech trunk, near Avalanche Crk. (Arthur's Pass), 95, W. M.; Mt. Cook, G. O. K. S.; near Fox Glacier, Mrs. Knight; rock at Leith Stream (Otago), Leith Saddle near Dunedin, W. side of Mt. Maungatua, on bark of Weinmannia sp., Glenledi, G. Simpson and J. S. Thomson; tree trunk in bush, between Taieri and Akatore Rs., on rocks, Maungatua, ca. 2,500 ft., K. W. A.; Mt. Maungatua, 24693, P. R. B. Herb (in part), west side of Mt. Maungatua, Silver Peak, G. Simpson.

Stewart Island: Bark of rimu, Pryse's Peak, 521, on dead log, Glory Harbour (Paterson's Inlet), 395, on deciduous scales of miro, Garden Mound, 342, W. M.

Auckland Island: On Radula physoloba (minute), 2279, Prof. Du Riete, comm. Dr. H. Persson. Another small specimen from Campbell Island, coll. J. H. Sorensen, resembles this in appearance, but has large basal and mid-leaf cells and a rugulose perianth.

The type was from Auckland Is., presumably collected by Hooker,

Frullania aterrima (Tayl.), Syn. Hep.

Jung. aterrima Tayl., Lond. Journ. of Bot., 395, 1844; Fl. Ant., 1855.

Frullania aterrima, Sym. Hep., 450, 1844–47; Fl. Nov. Zel., ii, 162; Handb. N. Z. Fl., ii, 538, 1867; Spec. Hep., iv, 657, 1910.

Plants monoicous or dioicous, usually compact, olive-green to dark-purplish-brown, rarely red-brown. Stems usually to ca. 2 cm., branching pinnate, bi-pinnate or irregular, dense or lax, branches very variable in length, sometimes increasing in width upwards and may be slightly curved. Leaves generally bigger on the main stem, and less imbricate, concave, oval to broadly oval, rounded at apex, or occasionally acute, rarely caducous; lobules similar to those of F. rostrata, but may be more oblique on the main stem, constant in size, usually hyaline at or near the mouth; cells ca. 18μ, minute towards the upper margin, suddenly enlarged at ventral base to form a vitta with 6–sided cells, to ca. 35μ, which is usually visible with the leaves in situ, but may be somewhat hidden by the broad stipules. Stipules 3–4 times as broad as the stem, with at least 1 prominent lateral tooth, deeply bi-fid, segments widely diverging. Invol. leaves and perianth as in F. rostrata, also ♀ inflorescence.

May be distinguished from F. rostrata by the broad, laterally toothed stipules with gaping sinuses, also by the cluster of large cells at the ventral base, and the usually darker colour.

North Island: Low epiphyte, kauri bark, Waipoua Forest, L. B. M.; trunk of living kauri, 6 ft. from ground, Waipoua Forest, on manuka and manoao, near Atiamuri, including nos. H147, H91, H197, 8 specimens, on bark in bush, Rotorua-Atiamuri Rd., on manuka, E. of Taupo, on manuka, E. of Waiotapu V., K. W. A.; on bark, Whakapapa, 2, bark of young beech, Whakapapa, with F. rostrata, National Park, near Tangiwai (Main Trunk), Panikau, G. O. K. S.; Ohakune Track (Mt. Ruapehu), Waiotaka V. (Kaimanawas), H. M. H.; with F. rostrata, Mt. Maungapohatu, B. Teague; on bark, edge of L. Waikaremoana, 2,000 ft., Tauruarau, on beech bark, E. A. H.; Northern Ruahines, Oroua (Southern Ruahines), Southern Rimutakas, on bark of leatherwood bushes, Tararuas, 3,500 ft., 960, manuka trees on river flat, Orongorongo V., H. M. H.; Wharite, 2,500 ft. (Southern Ruahines), 3, Southern Ruahines 765, 745, Kapakapanui, 854, 865, on rocks with Herberta alpina Mt. Holdsworth (Tararuas), 4,100 ft., 947, Akatarawa V., 929, A. P. D.; Mt. Climie, 2,000 ft., Rimutakas, 2 gatherings, A. P. D.

South Island: Travers V. (Nelson), 2,300 ft., A. P. D.; Punch Bowl (Arthur's Pass), F. MacD.; Arthur's Pass, H. M. H.; Avalanche Peak Track, Arthur's Pass, H. M. H. and F. MacD.; on Aristotelia fruticosa, 2 miles E. of Arthur's Pass township, 130, on tree-trunk, Kelly's Hill (Otira), with F. incumbens, 379, on wineberry, Mt. Cargill (Dunedin), W. M.; on tree-trunk in bush between Taieri and Akatore Rs., ca. 600 ft., on tree-trunk in bush, saddle between Waitati and Dunedin, ca. 1,000 ft., K. W. A.

The type was from Auckland Is., coll. Hooker.

All the variations of F. rostrata appear to have their counterparts in F. aterrima, though the elongated form with contiguous to remote leaves is rare. (One such specimen from Rangitikei V., 3,000 ft., 968, A. P. D., is green.)

There is a neat, tiny form, here described as var. lepida var. nov., which can hardly be passed by, as it has cropped up in several places, with perianths distinctive-looking with a median dorsal furrow.

Var. lepida var. nov.

Minima, pallida olivacea, caulis ramosus, 0·5 cm. longa. Folia caulinis ramorumque aequiparva, ca. 0·2–0·3 mm., imbricata, involucralia appressa, perianthia oblonga-obovata antica facie unisulcata, postica late carinata.

High land, E. of Waiotapu V., on manuka, Kaingaroa Plains (near Murupara), ca. 1,500 ft., H501, 24/6/34, trunk of small tree in bush gully between L. Rotoehu and coast, 12/5/43, K. W. A.; National Park, G. O. K. S., 1932; with green F. rostrata, beech forest, Rangitikei V. (Kaimanawas), 969, Jan., 1947, Kapakapanui, Nov. 24, 1946, 860, A. P. D.; Wilton's Bush (Wellington), Oct., 1941, R. Mason; L. Roto-iti, South Island, 2,100 ft., G. O. K. S.

The specimen from Kapakapanui is dark-red-brown.

Though the type of F. aterrima must be considered a small form of a variable species, this little variety is noticeably different.

Another striking form of F. aterrima has the appearance (numerous small branches), and sub-horizontal to horizontal stem lobules (branch lobules more normal), of F. ptychantha, but the toothed stipules and leaf-cells, including the vitta, are definitely those of F. aterrima. This specimen, off tree stems at Te Wharau, near Carterton, Sept., 1942, no. 407, W. M., could well be the result of a cross between F. aterrima and F. ptychantha.

Frullania ptychantha Mont.

F. ptychantha, Mont., Annal. des Sc. Nat., 19, p. 258; Voy. au Pole Sud, 1, 225; Syn. Hep., 442, 1844; Fl. Nov. Zel., ii, 163, 1855; Handb. N.Z. Fl., ii, 577, 1867; St., Spec. Hep., iv, 662, 1910. Jung, ptychantha Hook., Crypt. Ant., p. 51. Jung, myosota Tayl., Lond. Journ. of Bot., 393, 1844.

Plants olive-green to light-red-brown. Stems to 4 cm., all lying parallel, closely pinnately branched, branches short to very short, often bi-pinnate. Leaves sub-rotund from a somewhat narrowed base, to 1·3 mm., sometimes a little broader than tall, much smaller on branches, exappendiculate with a transverse insertion; cells ca. 30μ, 6-sided with acute trigones, or rounded with trigones all confluent, basal to 45μ lobules small, uniform in size, to about 0·15 mm. long, sub-symmetrical, narrowed to the mouth, distant from the stem, appearing pedicelled, very oblique, occasionally reaching below the horizontal. Stipules sub-rotund or more usually obovate, sometimes shouldered, bi-fid to almost ½, lobules diverging. Inmost invol. leaves acute or apiculate, a little falcate, entire or with an occasional tooth, 0·5 mm. broad, “lobules linear-lanceolate, entire acuminate” (K. W. A.). Stipule deeply bi-fid, segments narrow-triangular, attenuate. ♂ branches very short with only 1–2 pairs of bracts (in plants seen). Perianth variable, commonly with 1 dorsal and 2 ventral keels, but supplementary keels may bring the number up to 9, as in the earlier descriptions.

Distinct from the other New Zealand species in the small, distant, oblique lobules, the very short closely pinnate branches, and probably in the exappendiculate leaves.