Mlices.~\ 



FLORA OF NEW ZEALAND. 



A large genus of arborescent Ferns, natives of Tropical and South Temperate countries generally. — Son at 

 the back of the segments, removed from their margin, of numerous capsules, forming a globose mass on an elevated 

 or club-shaped receptacle, enclosed in a spherical, coriaceous, or membranous involucre, which bursts from the 

 base or irregularly from the top, and finally forms a more or less complete cup round the sorus. (Name from 

 KvaOos, a cup.) 



1. Cyathea meduttaris, Sw. ; arborea, stipite rachibusque muricatis, fronde coriacea 2-3-pinnata, 

 pmnulis sessilibus late lanccolatis acurninatis profunda pinnatifidis glabris subtus sparse paleaceis, segmentis 

 Imearibus oblongisve obtusis crenato-serratis rarius integerrimis inferioribus pinnatifidis, soris latiusculis 

 lobulis pinnuloram recurvis sitis, involucro membranaceo demum 3-4-lobo fimbriato-lacero.— ScMuhr, 

 Fil.f. 133. HookSp.Fil.v.l.p.27. A. (hum. Prodr. A. Rich. Flora. Polypodium medullare, Font. 

 Frodr. 



Hab. Northern and Middle Islands, as far south as Akaroa, Rami. Nat. name, "Koran" of the 

 northern tribes, "Mamaku" of the southern, Col. (Cultivated at Kew.) 



A very noble Tree-fern, the succulent pith of which is the best food of the kind which the New Zealand forests 

 afford. It is also a native of Norfolk Island, and probably of New Guinea, Otaheite, the Coral Islands, and 

 Bonim, whence fronds have been brought, hardly differing from those of the New Zealand plant, but the nature of 

 whose trunks is unknown.— Trunk 12-14 feet high, 6 to 8 in circumference, rough from being covered with the 

 black bases of the stipites. Fronds very numerous, 18 feet long, erecto-patent, tripinnate, coriaceous, deep green 

 above, pale beneath. Stipes and rachis covered with little scattered tubercles. Pinnules sessile, linear, 4-6 inches 

 long, A-li. broad, acuminate, pinnatifid to the costa, pinnate towards the base, glabrous or covered with ciliated 

 scales. Segments linear, falcate, acute, A inch long, T y-A broad, crenatc-serrate ; the lower segments pinnatifid. 

 Son numerous, one on each tooth of the segment, whose recurved margin partly hides it. Involucre irregularly 

 split to the base into several torn segments. Capsules mixed with hairs.— In barren fronds the segments are broader 

 and obscurely toothed. 



2. Cyathea dealbata, Sw. ; arborea, raehi costaque pube decidua vestita, fronde bipinnata, pinnulis 

 sessilibus lineari-lanceolatis acuminatis profunde pinnatifidis basi pinnatis subtus glaucis, segmentis lineari- 

 oblongis obtusis falcatis serratis, soris inter marginem costamque medio sitis, involucro globoso membranaceo 

 demum h.cwo.~SwarU, Syn. Fil. A.Rich. Fbr. p. 77. t. 10. A. Cunn. Frodr. Hooi.8p.FU. v. 1. p. 27. 



Hab. Throughout the Northern Island, and in the north parts of the Middle Island, Banks and So- 

 lander, etc., as far south as Akaroa, Raoul. Nat. name, " Ponga," Col. (Cultivated at Kew.) 



The tallest and most graceful Tree-fern of New Zealand, conspicuous for the milk-white under-surface of the 

 fronds; often forming groups : it grows in no other part of the world.— Trunk sometimes branched, 40 feet high, 

 slender, dark-coloured. Mr. Edgerley says that the pith is eaten like that of C. medullars, but the statement wants 

 confirmation. Fronds bipinnate; rachis and midrib of the pinnules covered with a soft pale deciduous down. Stipes 

 and rachis slender. Pinnce l-li feet long, green above, white and very glaucous below. Pinnules linear-lanceolate, 

 2-4 inches long, acuminate or caudate, i-f inch long, pinnatifid, and pinnate towards the base. Segments close 

 set, linear-oblong, blunt, serrate. Sori pale brown, numerous. Involucre membranous, lacerated. Receptacle pu- 

 bescent. 



3. Cyathea Cunning hamii, Hook. fil. ; rachi submuricata, fronde tripinnata fiaccida, pinnulis sessili- 

 bus lineari-elongatis obtusis pinnatifido-lobatis, lobulis rotundatis glaberrimis, involucris demum laceris v. 

 hemisphsericis margine subintegris, rachi costaque supra strigoso-pubescentibus infra tomentosis squa- 

 mosisque rarius glabratis glaberrimisve punctis minimis muricatis.— Nob. in Hook. Ic. Plant, t. 985. 



Hab. New Zealand, Forster. Northern Island: Wycari River, Bay of Islands, A. Cunningham. 

 Mountains of the east coast and interior, Colenso. Auckland, Sinclair. Nat, name, " Pumii/' Col. 



