NATURALISTS' FIELD CLUB

Evening Star, Issue 23564, 1 May 1940, Page 12

NATURALISTS' FIELD CLUB

PICTON AND HARLEORDUGH VISIT

At the indoor meeting members of tho club concluded their scries of talks on tho club’s recent trip to Pieton and the Marlborough Sounds. The stirring history of the early days in these regions was recounted by Mr Gilkison, who kept his listeners keenly interested in his account of tho raids mado upon tho South Island by the valorous, though deceitful and unscrupulous chief Te llauparaha from his headquarters at Kapiti. The slaughter of hundreds of unsuspecting natives at Amuri Bluff, the treachery and destruction at Kaiapoi, the capture of the pa at Akaroa, were a few of his exploits, but tho tragedy of tho AVairau Massacre was tho ono which will always be remembered as ono of the most unfortunate events in the history of the district. The scene of this tragedy was visited by the party, and tho monument erected in memory of the victims was inspected.

FERNS.

Miss Clancy described the ferns of the sounds. The Government reserves, where the bush is carefully preserved, proved a happy hunting ground for fern lovers. Of tree ferns there were hundreds, growing in great profusion, and of enormous size. Unbelievably largo were the mamaku, or black tree ferns, and tho Silver Tree Fern, cyatheu dealbata, grew to a size never seen hero in Otago. Tho fronds of Polypodinra pennigerum were almost like small palms in size. A most interesting fern was Bleelmum filiformis, so called because of the thread-like fertile frond, which resembles an ostrich feather. This fern starts life on the floor of the bush and creeps along the ground over stones and fallen logs until it reaches a tree trunk, and then it begins to mount. It is an inveterate climber, and gets to the top of lofty trees. AVhen it starts to climb, a curious change takes place; the stem thickens and the fronds grow six times as large—sometimes reaching a length of 30 inches. These fronds festoon the tops of tall trees. By the Maoris, this fern was sometimes called the “ Sacred Fern.” The large maidenhair fern, Adiantum affine, was very plentiful.

TREES AND FLOWERING PLANTS

Miss Finlaysou’s notes on these plants were supplemented by Miss Dalryniple. It was found that the vegetation of Marlborough boro a close resemblance to that of the North Island. A list of the more conspicuous plants not found in Otago, would show how this vegetation differed from that of the Otago district. Nothofagus truncata took the place of the well-known Nothofagus fusca, though Nothofagus Solandrii and N. Clill'ortioides were common. One of the most interesting plants was Fachystegia insignis, which was conspicuous on the rocky faces by the roadside on the Kaikoura-Blcnhcim route. This daisy is found only in Marlborough. Freycinetia Banksii climbed up many of the trees or scrambled on the forest floor.The beautiful “ blistered myrtle,” Myrtus bullata, in full flower, was very plentiful, and so was Winte. a axillaris, a close relation of the “ pepper tree ” which does not have the beautiful colouration of the latter. The New Zealand passion flower, Totrapathea tetrandra, with its conspicuous orange fruits, was abundant near the edge of the bush. _lt was noticed that many trees Known in Otago had larger and more luxuriant leaves and more abundant fruits in Marlborough. Two orchids not found in Otago were Frasophyllum rufum and Orthoceras strictnm. the latter being plentiful on dry banks.

FUNGI.

Mrs Moore described the fungi found, during the trip. The abundant rains early in tho season had encouraged their growth, and many interesting ones were collected. Boleti of different kinds were found. One specimen had rosy tissue under a yellow cap, another had yellow tissue and the cap a dingy brown. A very beautiful one was entirely pink, cap, tissue, and stem. A blue Hydnum with grey teeth proved a quaint-looking specimen. In a patch of wet hush everywhere sprouted from the ground the dusty flour-like spore cases of the Cordyceps aemohnc. When carefully lifted out of the soil the host of the fungus could be recognised as tho larva of the cicada.

INSECTS.

Insect life was similar to that of Otago, though some unusual specimens ■were observed. A beautiful green beetle, Chlorochiton suturalis, and two pill-bugs were the most interesting, hut cicadas, praying mantis., large dragon flies, basket moths, and spiders all added interest to the outings.

BIRDS.

Over 20 species of native birds were noted. These included blue heron, gannets, shearwaters, sea swallows and black-fronted tern, shags, blue penmans, oyster catchers. Paradise ducks, o-rey ducks, and pukeko, and the bush birds tui, bellbird, fantail, wax-eye, grey warbler, wren, pigeon, and kingfisher.

OUTDOOR MEETING.

Saturday’s outing was to Stony Knowe, Brighton. Members travelled by bus to the bridge across the mouth of the Kaikorai River. From there they walked a short distance to the old quarry in Stoney Knowe. Here Mr Tily gave an account of the geology of Otago, and it was explained that the knowe consisted of a basalt dyke which had been intruded into the Abbotsford mudstone. The two rocks were visible, and their properties were briefly described. The mudstone was coloured green by a mineral glauconite, and verysoft. The softness was so great that it crumbled not only under the weight of superincumbent rocks, but also under its own weight when wet, and evidence of this was seen in the whole of the Dunedin district from Saddle Hill to the Kilmog Hill. On each side of Stony Knowe the slumped country was very obvious. The basalt of which the knowe was composed was a black rock which weathered to a light brownish surface. It showed a distinct prismatic structure, the prisms being horizontal and lying approximately north-west and south-east.