On the Protophyta of New Zealand

Considerable numbers are recorded as natives of Australia, having been there systematically looked for and examined. My friend Dr. Roberts, of Sydney, has, for instance, long devoted himself to the examination of the diatoms of Australia and its adjoining seas; and the addition of numerous new and interesting forms has already been the result of his single labours. But in New Zealand I am aware of no resident botanist, and no traveller save myself, who has given himself even the trouble of limited or superficial collection. In one of his letters to me (of date June 6th, 1861) Dr. GreviUc, however, says, “Some very interesting gatherings of them have already come from that country;” but I can find no trace of any published record thereof. In these circumstances, the following list of species, collected by myself in a very limited area, and under most unfavorable conditions, may be useful to the local botanist, stimulating and encouraging his zeal, perseverance, and industry, by showing what fruits may be expected from more systematic collections over wider areas, and in different parts of an extensive and varied colony.

Enumeration of Freshwater Diatomaceæ, collected in the vicinity of Dunedin, Otago, in 1861:—

Genus 1. Epithemia.

Species 1. gibba, Ehrb.

Occurs also in the Geysers of Iceland and the lakes of Switzerland.

2. musculus, Kütz.

3. Westermanni, Ehrb. Occurs also in Ceylon.

4. Zebra, Ehrb.

5. turgida, Ehrb.

6. Sorer, Kütz.

Previously found in New Zealand; fresh or brackish water; precise locality unknown (Smith).

Genus 2. Eunotia.

7. gracilis, Sm.

Genus 3. Hiniuntidium.

8. pectinale, Kütz.

Occurs also in France (at 6000 ft. in Auvergne), Italy, Sweden, Russia, and other parts of Europe (Rabenhorst).

9. bidens, Ehrb.

Genus 4. Meridian.

10. circulare, Grev.

Occurs also in France (at 3000 ft. in Auvergne) and throughout Europe (Rabenhorst).

11. constrictum, Ralfs.

Occurs also in France (at 5577 ft. in Auvergne) and throughout Europe (Rabenhorst).

Genus 5. Denticula.

12. tenuis, Kütz.

Occurs also in France and throughout Europe (Rabenhorst). Genus 6. Odontidium.

13. mutabile, Sm.

„ 7. Fragilaria.

14. capucina, Desm.Genus 8. Nitzschia.

15. parυula, Sm. ?

Smith describes parυula as marine, but my collection contains no marine forms ; so that this diatom, which was considered as doubtfully referable to parυula by Dr. Greville, may really prove to be another species.

16. Amphioxys, Ehrb.

17. minutissima, Sm.

18. spathulata, Bréb.

This also is recorded by Smith and Rabenhorst as marine, while in Otago it occurred in fresh water, though in lagoons near the coast, and sometimes flooded by the sea.

Genus 9. Homœocladia.

19. sigmoidea, Sm.

„ 10. Synedra.

30. minutissima, Kütz.

21. radians, Kütz.

A common British form, almost cosmopolite, previously found in New Zealand (Smith).

22. tenuis, Kütz.

Occurs in Germany and France, but notBritish (Pritchard).f Throughout Europe, however, says Rabenhorst, p. 136.

23. delicatissima, Sm.

24. tenera, Sm.

25. Ulna, Ehrb., and var. γ. Sm.

Occurs also in Ceylon.

26. acuta, Ehrb.

Occurs in America, Asia, Africa, and Australia. Not British (Pritchard). Throughout Europe (Rabenhorst).

27. fasciculata, Ag.

Genus 11. Cymatopleura.

28. apicutata, Sm.

In my list of Otago Diatomaccæ, given in the Linnean Society’s ‘Journal,’ vol. ix, p. 132, this genus and species arc erroneously omitted; but the error was corrected by Dr. Greville in a letter to me of March 5th, 1866. Regarding this species Mr. Carruthers writes me^‡ that it “is considered as only an apiculate variety of C. Solea. It is British. But if it be rightly referred to C. Solea, its distribution is world-wide.”

Genus 12. Tryblionella.

29. gracilis, Sin.

30. debilis, Rylands. In MSS. inedit, [fide Greville.]

Mr. Camithcrsf informs me that T. debilis “ is only a MS. name for a European species, found as well in Britain. Grunow has distributed it under the name of T; Sauteriana, and this, I believe, is the name it is likely to retain. It is not yet published under any name, although it is well known through the distributed slides.”

31. angustata, Sm.

32. leυidensis, Sm.

Genus 13. Surirella.

33. biseriata, Bréb.

Both recent and fossil: throughout Europe, North and South America, and the Cape (Rabenhorst).

34. linearis, Sm.

35. splendida, Ehrb.

36. tenera, Greg.

37. ovata, Kütz.

38. minuta, Bréb.

39. elegans, Ehrb.

Genus 14. Campylodiscus.

40. cribrosus, Sm.

Recorded by Smith as a marine or brackish-water form Occurs also in North America.

Genus 15. Diatomella.

41. Balfouriana, Grev.

16. Cyclotella.

42. operculata, Kütz.

43. Kützingiana, Thw. ?

44. punctata, Sm.

45. minutula, Kütz. British (Rabenhorst).

17. Hyalodiscus.

46. subtilis, Bail.

Occurs at Halifax, Nova Scotia. Neither genus nor species is British (Pritchard) or European (Rabenhorst).

Genus 18. Melosira.

47. subflexilis, Kütz.

Occurs also in France (Smith) and throughout Europe (Rabenhorst).

48. varians, Ag.

49. orichalcea, Mert.

Genus 19. Actinoptychus.

Dr. Greville remarks,^* “Smith made a blunder, and Ralfs (in Pritchard’s ‘Infusoria’) restored the name.”

50. undulatus, Kütz.

Occurs in America (in guano, &c.); not British (Pritchard).

Genus 20. Cocconeis.

51. Pediculus, Ehrb.

52. Placentula, Ehrb,

,, 21. Achnanthidium.

53. lanceolatum, Bréb.

Occurs also in France (at 3000 feet in Auvergne) (Smith), and in most parts of Europe (Rabenhorst).

54. lineare, Sm.

55. coarctatum, Bréb.

This and the preceding occur also in France (Smith): the latter in many parts of Europe (Rabenhorst).

56. trinode, Arn.

Genus 22. Achnanthes.

57. exilis, Kütz.

Occurs also in France (Smith) and throughout Europe (Rabenhorst).

Genus 23. Cymbella.

58. cuspidata, Kütz.

Occurs also in Nova Scotia (Smith).

59. obtusiuscula, Kütz.

Occurs in Europe, but is not British (Pritchard).

60. Helvetica, Kütz.

61. Lindsay ana, Grcv.

“Descriptions of new species of Diatoms from the South Pacific,” ‘Trans. Botan. Society of Edin.,’ vol. viii, p. 234; plate 3, figs. 5—8.

“Valves lanceolate; slightly contracted beneath the obtuse apices ; often with nearly equal sides A beautifulLINDSAY, species, varying considerably in size and in relative length and breadth. Sometimes the sides are conspicuously unequal; …. but generally the inequality is small and often scarcely, if at all, perceptible ; so that valves might pass for a Navicula were it not for an indescribable facies which to the initiated eye proclaims its true position. The apices are neither capitate nor produced; but a slight contraction just beneath them produces a very characteristic effect. As is common among species both of Cymbella and Cocconema, the frustules vary much in length and breadth. In length they range from ·0025” to ‘0035”, and in breadth the shortest specimens are often equal to the longest: the average being about ‘0007.” The striæ are about 19 in. ·001”.”

C. apiculata, which was included in my list of Otago Diatomaccæ published in the ‘Linnean Society’s Journal,’ was an error subsequently rectified by Dr. Greville. The diatom in question was really Cymatopleura apiculata, belonging to the family Surirelleœ.

Genus 24. Cocconema.

62. lanceolatum, Ehrb.

Occurs also in North America; previously found in New Zealand (Smith).

Genus 25. Amphora.

63. oυalis, Kütz.

„ 26. Gomphonema.

64. constrictum, Ehrb.

65. curvatum, Kütz.

66. cristatum, Ralfs.

67. Augur, Ehrb.

Occurs in Europe, Asia, Africa, America, and Australia, but not British (Pritchard). Throughout Europe (Rabenhorst).

Dr. Greville remarks, f “May or may not be British. If it be considered a variety of G. cristatum, it is British. Smith is doubtful. I have considered it as distinct and not British.”

68. tenellum, Kütz.

69. intricatum, Kütz.

70. Vibrio, Ehrb.

71. dichotomum, Kütz.

72. œquale, Greg.Genus 27. Navicula.

73. læmssima, Kütz.

74. Cocconeiformis, Greg.

75. Claυiculus, Greg.

Recorded as marine by Smith.

76. elliptica, Kütz.

77. inflata, Kütz.

78. pusilia, Sm.

79. crassinerυia, Bréb.

80. cryptocephala, Kütz.

81. affinis, Ehrb.

82. rhomboides, Ehrb.

83. lanceolata, Ag.

84. cuspidata, Kütz. Var. Craticula, Ehrb.

85. scita, Sm.

86. firma, Kütz.

Fossil in Italy (Rabenhorst).

87. tumida, Bréb.

Marine and littoral (Rabenhorst).

Genus 28. Pinnularia.

88. major Sm.

89. viridis, Sm.

A fresh-water form, occurring in Nova Scotia and other countries; previously found in New Zealand (Smith).

90. acuminata, Sm.

91. peregrina, Ehrb. Marine (Rabenhorst).

92. radiosa, Sm.

93. mridula. Sm.

94. Staurcneiformis, Sm.

95. gibba, Ehrb.

96. mesolepta, Ehrb.

97. interrupt a, Sm.

98. subcapitata, Greg.

99. borealis, Ehrb.

Occurs also in France (at 4000 ft. in Auvergne), Smith : and throughout Europe (Rabenhorst).

Genus 29. Stauroneis.

100. constricta, Ehrb.

Occurs in Africa, Chili, and Australia: but not British (Pritchard). Dr. Greville remarks:—” I have considered it distinct. If it be held distinct, it is not British. Smith quotes it doubtfully under Achnanthidium coarctatum.”

Rabenhorst (p. 108) also records it under A. coarctatum as British.

101. anceps, Ehrb.

Occurs also in Europe, Asia, Africa, and America (Smith).

102. linearis, Ehrb.

Occurs also in America (Smith).

103. platystoma, Ehrb.

Occurs also in Germany, America, and Asia: but not British (Pritchard). Switzerland and Southern France (Rabenhorst).

104. Phænicenteron, Nitz.

Occurs also in Sicily (throughout Europe, Rabenhorst) and North America (Smith).

105. gracilis, Ehrb.

Occurs also in North America (Smith).

106. scaphulœformis, Grev.

“Descriptions of New and Rare Diatoms,” ‘Quart. Journ. Mic. Sci.,’ July, 1866, p. 85, Pl. IX, fig. 32.

107. rotundata, Grev.

Ibid., p. 85, Pl. IX, figs. 30, 31.

Genus 30. Mastogloia.

108. lanceolata, Thw.

Marine and littoral (Rabenhorst).

Genus 31. Colletonema.

109. vulgare, Thw.

Occurs also in France (Smith): and throughout Europe (Rabenhorst).

110. neglectum? Thw.

The most interesting feature of the foregoing list is the very large proportion of genera and species that are British. Of 31 genera, only 1, or 3·22 per cent.; while of 110 species only 11, or 10 per cent., are not British. The solitary genus in question is Hyalodiscus. while the species are H. subtilis, Actinoptychus undiilatus, Synedra tenuis, S. acuta, Cymbella obtusiuscula, C. Lindsayana, Gomphonema augur, Stauroneis platystoma, S. scaphulaeformis, S. rotundata, and Surirella elegans. This proportion (90 per cent.) of British forms is much larger than what obtains in any other class of plants collected by me in New Zealand,^* and is greater, perhaps, than we should à priori have been led to expect in the circumstances.

A second feature of interest is the large proportion of forms which are not only common fresh-water species in Britain, but are cosmopolite, occurring in most different parts of the world, under great variety of climate, latitude, and elevation, including the heights of the Himalayas and Andes. Tlús category embraces, e. g., Synedra radians, S. Ulna, Stauroneis gracilis, S. anceps, S. Phænicenteron, Pinmilaria viridis, P. borealis, Cocconema lanceolatum, Colletonema υulgare, Epithemia gibba, Navicula claviculus

Equally important and even more encouraging to the local botanist is the fact that a superficial collection, hurriedly made by a traveller in a most limited area, near a capital town, contains three new species, viz., Cymbella Lindsayana, Stauroneis scaphulæformis, audS. rotundata, o? 2·72 per cent. These are necessarily, so far as we yet know, restricted in their distribution to New Zealand: though the analogy of other species renders it at least probable that they’will yet be found to possess a wider range.

Of the 110 species enumerated in the foregoing list, none are recorded in the latest general catalogue of Diatoms (in English)—that of Ralfs, in Pritchard’s ‘Infusoria ‘(4th ed., 1860)—as having been previously found in New Zealand: while in the earlier ‘Synopsis ‘of Smith (1853 and 1856) only three are so recorded, viz., Epithemia Soreæ, Pinnularia viridis, and Cocconema lanceolatum.

A knowledge of the geographical distribution—of the nature of the habitats—of the botanical relations of Diatoms in other parts of the world in which they have been thoroughly studied—cannot fail to assist the local botanist in his search for, and examination of. New Zealand forms. Hence no apology seems necessary for introducing here the following general observations :

I doubt whether any other group of plants has a wider geographical range than the Diatomaceæ f—whether any willbe found, when thoroughly known, to exhibit a greater number of cosmopolites, a larger proportion of species which are independent of the usual restrictions of climate or latitude, elevation or depth, aqueous or terrestrial growth—or a wider range in geological time. They arc to be found in every part of the world hitherto explored by man, equally within the Arctic Circle as under the Line: they occur at great elevations on the highest mountains of the world, as well as at great depths in the ocean; in boiling or hot springs, and in the ashes ejected from active volcanoes ; in running as well as stagnant, brackish or fresh as well as salt, water; on the surface of soil of various kinds; on dung and other decaying organic matters ; on lichens, algæ, and other plants. They abound on the Antarctic ice as far south as 78° S. to such an extent as to give colour to the said ice and the associated water. Not infrequently they occur also in the dust of dust-winds, and they may therefore be looked for in that of those which sweep over New Zealand from Australia. Indeed it is difficult to say where members of this cosmopolite family will not be discovered.

Practically, Diatoms may be divided into two great groups:—1. the terrestrial, including fresh-water forms; and 2. the marine.

Exclusively to the former category belong those which I collected in Otago, and which are enumerated in the list hereinbefore given. Members of this group are to be looked for in the mud and scum of ponds, lakes, ditches, lagoons, or marshes—especially where the water is stagnant and overgrown with chlorospermous or confervaceous algæ: or on the surface of rocks or soil over which water constantly trickles, in damp, shady situations—for instance, in ravines by the sides of waterfalls, in the dense moist bush. Their collection is easy; and their siliceous coats render their beautiful structure and characters readily preservable. The scum or the surface of the sand, rock, soil, or water above referred to, has merely to be scraped with a metallic or other spoon, and the collect, after filtration from superfluous water, whether mud, marl, disintegrated rock, confervaceous vegetation or mixture of mosses, hepaticæ and soil, placed in small phials and securely corked. In this way my own small collections in Otago were hurriedly made. In this way collections have been made in all parts of the world and forwarded to the late Dr. Greville, so long our first authority in this beautiful but intricate department of botanical research—who, by this means, was enabled to contribute, in great measure through the pages of this Journal, many valuable and original additions to our knowledge of the Diatomaceæ.

It is certainly not out of place here also to introduce some of Dr. Greville’s instructions to myself when about to visit New Zealand; they cannot fail to he as serviceable to, and suitable for others, whether travellers or residents, as they were to me. “The collecting is a very simple affair,” says he, “the whole apparatus being a small iron spoon, and a few small, wide-mouthed bottles, half a dozen of which are carried in the pocket. …. You are quite correct with regard to the general habitats of diatoms.. In skimming the mud from the banks of streams, select quiet places ; and if there are traces of recent floods it would be of no use, as the diatoms would be washed away. Moist, gelatinous, slimy surfaces of rocks (often on vertical precipices and in caves) are very rich in Diatoms, especially when these occur on sea-shore cliffs. Short moss, growing in similar situations, on which water is constantly trickling, is a good trap for diatoms, and a good handful of it might be taken and merely wrapped in paper. …. Springs of water, which form little basins lined with mud or sand, almost always contain them. In bogs and morasses, clear spots of water, even a few inches across, are often rich (the mud)…. Where the margins of ponds or slow streams are lined with conferva or that mixture of slimy vegetation, half cryptogamous, half phænogamous, which so often occurs in such situations, take a handful of it and preserve it en massef …. I am afraid that freshwater Algœ may not be in good state; but as to Diatoms in any sort of mess, I am not afraid of them.’^‡

I am aware of no contributions whatever towards a knowledge of the Marine Diatoms of New Zealand—of its seas and coasts; while I believe this category to be the more interesting, inasmuch as a relationship will probably be proved to exist between living species and those which occur in a fossil state in the various tertiary or post-tertiary, or other calcareous or arenaceous formations of New Zealand—formations that are largely developed in certain localities, and which abound in Foraminifera and other minute or microscopic animal organisms \Protozoa\. The identity or similarity between existing species and those imbedded in geological deposits, especially of the later ages, has been proved in regard to the Diatomaceæ of various other parts of the world.^§ Dr. Hooker, for instance, mentions that various diatoms obtained by soundings on the Victoria barrier in the antarctic seas at a depth of 300 fathoms (1800 feet) are identical with fossil species occurring in Tripoli slate, and in the Phonolite stones of the Rhine. I have already explained that none of my Otago diatoms were marine. Por collection of the latter I had no proper opportunity. Dr. Greville remarks, “Your New Zealand list would have been considerably increased if you had collected marine species.”^* …. “On the sea-shore, small tufts of seaweed mixed with zoophytes, See., such as arc often attached toshells, frequently contain good diatoms.”f He also recommends, as we have already seen, the exploration of the slimy surfaces of coast cliffs and caves.

Soundings at sea are also frequently very fertile, even far from land, and at great depths; the collects varying necessarily with the nature of the bottom. In this way, and from such a source, numbers of new and beautiful species have been brought to light by Dr. Roberts, of Sydney,‡ viz., species which inhabit the sea bottom of various parts of the great Pacific and Southern Oceans, as well as of parts of the Australian coasts. There is yet another fertile source of marine Diatomaceæ, viz., the stomachs of the various marine animals which feed on them directly or indirectly—their siliceous coats being indestructible by the ordinary processes of digestion in the larger animals (including birds) which prey on the former: and in the guano and excreta of the birds in question. When I was preparing for a circumnavigation excursion in 1861, Dr. Greville called my attention to this subject. “It is not unlikely that in the voyage you may have opportunities of collecting very interesting things. Salpce, &c., always contain diatoms (see Wallich’s Paper in ‘Annals of Natural History,’ January, I860). If you press the small nucleus seen at one end of a Sulpa, the contents escape, and there are the diatoms. Some Salpce are several inches long, and the nucleus large in proportion. No doubt many novelties remain to be discovered in materials collected from marine floating animals.” § Accordingly, solely with a view to the diatoms they might contain, I carefully collected at various points in the course or my circumnavigation—generally far from land (viz., in the middle of the North Atlantic, in the South Atlantic, in the Southern Ocean southward of Cape Horn) all the Medusae, Physaliæ, or more minute marine animalcules which it was possible for me to obtain. Further, I removed and preserved, with their contents intact, the stomachs and intestines of a considerable number and variety of Birds (e.g., Albatross, various Gulls, Cape Pigeons, Mother Cary’s chickens), and Fish (e.g., Dolphin, Bonito, Flying Fish) which prey on these or other marine animal organisms. I also collected masses of the “Gulf weed” in the North Atlantic “Sargasso Sea,” with the Crustacea and other marine animals inhabiting it; besides various other floating algae, with their parasites, met with at a distance from land. The result, in Dr. Greville’s hands, so far as concerns the specimens so collected and brought home, was unexpectedly and exceptionally negative.

“The bottles containing matter from the stomach and intestines of fish and birds, &c., were, I am sorry to say, perfect blanks. I examined them very carefully, and could not find a single diatom.”^* Other collectors may confidently expect, however, to be more fortunate. In one of his last letters to me, Dr. Greville says, “I have good diatoms just received from the stomachs of Holothuriœ, Alexandria, and of limpets from South America.” ^†

To sum up. As regards the New Zealand Diatomaceæ, it thus appears, 1. That only a few terrestrial or freshwater forms are yet known’; while 2. Marine species and fossil‡ forms are altogether or almost unknown. The most promising lines of research for the local botanist—in addition to the mere discovery of species—are the interrelations of the existing to the fossil flora, and of New Zealand forms to those of Britain, Australia, and other parts of the world. The botanist who devotes himself to their examination and description will doubtless find New Zealand Diatoms possessed of that common peculiarity or attribute of all New Zealand plants— as well as of the lower Cryptogams wherever they occur— variability or inconstancy of character; and it will try severely both his patience and skill to define those groups of individuals which are known to systematists as “species “— groups which appear to me in many genera at least both of Cryptogams and Phænogams—to have no real existence in nature. lu all probability the large additions which must remain to be made to the New Zealand Diatomaceæ will contain few new species or varieties in proportion to those which are already known as cosmopolite, or widely diffused European or British forms, whether living or fossil.

Of this large and most interesting family as it is developed or represented in New Zealand we as yet know nothing; no species having been, so far as I am aware, hitherto either collected or described. So little is known of this family beyond Europe, where they appear to decrease in number from north to south, that it is impossible to predict what numbers or kinds—what genera or species—may be found in New Zealand. But the very obscurity which surrounds our knowledge of their natural history and geographical distribution should be a stimulus to their careful study by the local botanist. With a few exceptions, which occur in brackish water, but are not peculiar thereto, these beautiful though minute organisms occur in fresh water. They are supposed to assist in the clarification or purification of the water in which they occur, and to constitute the food of various minute aquatic animalcules. They are to be looked for, it would appear, if we are to be guided by the character of their usual habitats in Europe, in clear, still water, chiefly in the vicinity of peat. In limestone countries or districts the higher forms are rare. Several species are fossil; and, like the fossil Diatomaceæ, these fossil forms appear either identical with or closely allied to existing species.

generally speaking, are to be looked for as the first forms of vegetation which coat with green or otherwise-coloured moulds or stains the damp-shaded surfaces of rock—or or stone or wooden constructions of all kinds—coatings which arc frequently associated and apt to be confounded with, from their resemblance to, various conditions of certain groups of the lower Lichens and Fungi. To them (Palmellaceœ) also are probably due some at least of the “coloured rains” described by travellers in various countries. This class of organisms is so common that it is likely to be overlooked by all but the microscopist, to whom it will furnish many interesting additions to the cryptogamic flora of New Zealand : though the proportion of novelties as in the Diatomaceæ may not be great, while the number of cosmopolite or widely diffused forms may be considerable.^*

It must be evident, then, that in the department of the Protophyta alone very extensive and most important additions may be expected to be made by the labours of specialists—

I. To the catalogue of New Zealand species, recent and fossil: as well as to our

II. Knowledge of

a. The variations of these species.

b. Their geographical distribution ; and

c. The inter-relations of living and fossil forms.

In particular, species of Palmella and Protococcus may be looked for. I found Palmella cruenta, Ag., in Otago.f At home this species is extremely common, and frequently very beautiful, occurring about the damp bases of the walls of buildings, giving the appearance as if some red fluid had been recently poured over their surface. In similar habitats it is likely to be found in New Zealand. Forms allied to the fungus-like P. ρrodigiosa, which spreads over meat, boiled vegetables, and other organic substances, with great rapidity, spotting them as with blood-stains, may be expected. Species of Protococcus allied to P. nivalis are likely to occur in New Zealand. In both the genera in question, and in their allies, the local botanist will doubtless experience much difficulty in determining what are to be considered forms or varieties —stages or states of growth—and what species or types.