82 ART. 12. K. YENDO. 



developed plant, as a consequence, the primary stem generally 

 becomes confluent with the upper portion of the root, with the 

 basal branches apparently starting multicij)itally from the surface 

 of the conical elevation. It is these basal branches which appear 

 as the principal members of a frond. When old, their lower 

 portions are cylindrical but irregularly verrucose from the scars left 

 by the dropped basal leaves, and are mostly trunk-like. These stout 

 stems, when only a few centimeters in length, ramify profusely. 



The stem of a branch which is sent forth from the basal 

 stem, is compressedly ancipitous with a longitudinal costal eleva- 

 tion on one surface, and provided with several spinous processes 

 along the ancipitated margins. 



While the plants are yet very young, measuring not more 

 than 2 feet in height, the basal leaves are usually still to be 

 found. In such specimens the leaves are strongly retrofractive, 

 linear-spathulate, and irregularly dentated with a midrib running 

 from the base nearly to the apex. The base of such a leaf is cune- 

 ate, round or often cordate, and is continuous to a short complanated 

 petiole. The margins of the complanated stipule frequently 

 expand into thin membranaceous wing-like appendages confluent 

 above with the ancipitous margins of the stem. The substance of 

 the leaves is mostly thick and coreaceous without cryptostomata, 

 but often very thin and membranaceous with inconspicuous cryp- 

 tostomata or else entirely destitute of them. The leaves in the 

 upper portion of a frond are linear-spathulate, duplicato-serrated, 

 with the segments pointing obliquely upwards. 



In these young forms vesicles are found solitary on the 

 upper surface of the flat petioles. They are large and spherical, 

 often measuring 1 cm. in diameter, coronated with a lanceolate 

 or spathulate leaflet at the top, and with a stalk usually shorter 



