RARE N.Z. FERNS

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 99, 20 January 1933, Page 3

RARE N.Z. FERNS

A Remarkable Collection

WANGANUI GARDENER’S

TREASURE

New Zealand possesses some of the oddest plants known to botanists, and for its size it has the greatest variety of ferns of any country in the world. There are several excellent collections of ferns in New Zealand, one of the best, being the property of Mr. P. Cox, of Wanganui, who has growing in bis bush house a specimen of every kind of New Zealand fern, with seven exceptions. Of this seven, a number has not been seen for many years. Mr. Cox informed “The Dominion” that no new species, but a number of new varieties, had been discovered during the past ten years, many of which are not yet listed. So far there are known to be 31 genera, about 108 species, of ferns in New Zealand. Surely you.have not those nefroudium uuitums that grow in hot .water in Rotorua? he was asked. "Even those; come and see them,” be replied. Mr. Cox only started his fernery some five years ago. On his property was a creek with deep steep sides. By cutting into the bank be has been able to plant bis ferns where they obtain natural moisture. He has built facines with punga trunks, and huge pieces of pumice, and always when transplanting a fern from its natural surroundings he has brought with it a sugar-bag full of its own particular soil —peat, rock, gravel, or mould—so various are the requirements of these dainty children of our land. Old willow stumps have allowed themselves to be covered with the six varieties that climb up trees, and enclosing the whole Is a stout wire-netting and brush sides and top. Native alpine plants and begonias make splashes of colour, and great hanging baskets of pumie full of blossoms help to break the light. In the outer fernery are specimens that have become acclimatised. One is the Hypolepis Millifolia, whose native home is on mountains of 3000 ft. upwards. It is growing luxuriously in the open, in the hanging baskets, and under glass. Then there is an extraordinary new form of the Blechnum family, found by Mr. Cox at the back of Waitotara, some two years ago, and the only specimen, and so far, unnamed fern in New Zealand. You would not think that ferns are' deciduous, but there are four species of deciduous or semi-deciduous ferns in the little bush house. Unless you know quite a lot about ferns, you are often puzzled, for some juveniles have the trick of completely changing their form when they grow up. Male and female fronds distinguish others, whilemany seed on every leaf, some on the mid-rib, and others around the edges, in rows, dotted or in clusters —there is infinite variety. Some little seeds are yellow, some black, but all are as fine as powder. One rare little fern that throws up two fronds, male and female, each year, developes its spores and dies immediately, was found at Mount Tongariro. Mr. Cox has also the rare I’olypodium Novae Zelandiae, found on Mount Ruapheu, probably the only specimen of the mountain-loving Aspidium Cystostegia, which is doing well after three years’ absence from its mountain home. It is flourishing in the inner fernery, companioned by the Loxsoma Cunninghauiii, a rare and curious fern which has the blood of four distinct species. It is found in northern forests near Te Aroha, and was a conundrum to scientists. The Gleichenias and varieties accustomed to bleak exposure, even in this sheltered place, roll back their little leaflets, ami protect the seed spores from the elements, and the collection includes all the dark-leafed ferns found in the deepest forests, hidden under fallen logs.. For years there was only one recognised form of the Hookerianum family; Mr. Cox has no less than twelve distinct forms, and a number of uncommon forms of the Asplenium family, commonly known as “carrot ferns.” Perhaps the most beautiful part of the inner fernery is the “Wardian Case.” This is a shallow glass-front-ed case with a back composed of rock and moss. A perpetual dampness is maintained, for the moisture rises from the water down in wet stones and moss at the bottom of the case. and. setting on the ferns, drips back again. One of these cases is in a big fernery in New Plymouth. There are 32 varieties of ferns in the case set among moss—a little fairy miniature of fern life, so dainty and frail that they don’t look real.