NEW CHINESE FERNS. 237 
cular views of the limits of these genera, as well as of the names they 
should bear. . 
Tas. I. Aspidium (Lastrea) podophyllum :—nat. size. Fig. 1. Por- 
tion of a fertile pinna. 2. Sorus:—magnified. — 
BowniNGIA* INSIGNIS, Hook. 
Gen. Char. BowRINGIA, Hook. Sori ad basin venularum transversalium 
insidentes, nudi, inter costam et marginem siti, irregulares, magis 
minusve secus venas decurrentes. Vene interne, ramose ; primarie 
maculas angulosas coste parallelas formantes, venulas liberas sim- 
plices vel fureatas patentes approximatas fere ad marginem attin- 
gentes gerentes.—Filix arborea, caudice 2—3-pedali densissime fibroso- 
squamoso. Frondes sesquipedales, terminales et laterales, glabre, cori- 
aceo-membranacee, pinnate. Pinnæ patentissime vel reflewe, lato-li- 
neares sed e basi lata sessili sensim acuminate argute serrate. Costa 
subtus prominens. Venæ interne subtus vix elevate, fuscescentes, supra 
depresse. Stipes brevis, basi densissime longissime villoso-squamosus. 
Rachis parce hic illic paleaceo-squamosa. 
Bowringia insignis. Tas. II. : 
Has. Hong-Kong, Messrs. Bowring, Major Champion (n. 294, 295). 
Khasya hills, Eastern Bengal, Dr. Hooker. 
We are indebted to the Messrs. Bowring for living plants of this 
curious and certainly arborescent Fern, sent from Hong-Kong, and now 
growing in the stove of the Royal Gardens at Kew. Major Champion 
has favoured us-with dried specimens of the same with a section of the 
caudex; and Dr. Hooker has sent home, from Khasya, fronds of the 
same species, and fine specimens of the trunks three and four feet long. 
Of our living specimens the terminal fronds died, but lateral ones, 
from a small knob or projection, have appeared and attained their full 
size. The fructified specimens appear to be rare in Hong-Kong, but 
abundant in Khasya. tes 
The affinities of this plant are not easily explained, especially if we - 
consider its arborescent character. The venation and even the habit of 
* Named in compliment to Dr. Bowring afd his son J. O. Bowring, Esq., mem- 
bers of a family impe distinguished for their love of literature than for their pa- 
tronage of science whenever ity presents itself: and the Messrs. B 
above named, have contributed y to our knowledge of the Natural History of 
Hong-Kong, and have further been a means of obtaining a correct knowledge of the 
famous Chinese Rice-paper, and of its: mode of preparation. 
