‘CHARACTERS OF TRIRES AND GENERA. 
Sect. 8.—GYMNOSPHARA. 
Sort naked. 
A. glabra (Blume); A. squamulata (BL) 
‘OBs.—These two species are natives of India, Malacca, 
. and Java. 
.. In Norfolk Island, Alsophila excelsa (now nearly extinct) 
has been measured 60 to 80 feet in height, the stem being 
smooth and tesellated, as in Oyathea arborea. In Tasmania 
A. australis also attains a considerable height, forming a 
trunk a foot or more in diameter, which differs from 
A. excelsa in the base of the frond being permanent and 
muricate, thus forming a rough stem. On Mount Wel- 
lington it grows in ravines to a considerable elevation, 
even to the region of snow, 
In Sikkim A. comosa attains the height of 25 feet, with a 
circumference of 7 feet 8 inches ; the fronds are deciduous, | : 
falling away in August; they bear bulky stems, then . 
. Standing in groups like pillars. 
D 
133,—TricHopreris, Presl. (1822). 
Alsophila sp., Hook. Sp. Fil. 
Vernation fasciculate, erect, caudex arborescent. Fronds 
bipinnate, 4 to 6 feet long, smooth, stipes articulate with ` 
the stem; pinnæ distant ; pinnules lanceolate, sub-serrate, _ 
short petiolate articulate with the rachis. Veins pinnately ` 
forked; venules free, their apices clavate. Receptacles 
lateral, scarcely elevated, oblong on the venule.  Sori 
contiguous, confluent, forming a broad compound trans- 
verse, medial sorus, and criniferous. 
Type. Polypodium Tenitis, Roth. 
