Walkeriane. N, O. Filices. 
TAB. DCXLVII. 
CyaTHeA WALKER&. Hook. 
Inermis, frondibus bipinnatis, pinnulis crassis coriaceis pro- 
funde pinnatifidis inferne pinnatis, pinnulis superioribus ad 
basin contractis segmentisque oblongis valde obtusis integris 
v. parum crenatis, costa inferiore plerumque squamosa, 
squamis deciduis, venis copiosis depressis basin et seepe ad 
medium furcatis, soris ad furcaturas infimas coste proximis, 
involucris magnis opacis ad latus superius solummodo quasi 
dehiscentibus in costam reflexis cuculliformibus. Hook. Sp. 
Fil. v. 1, p. 24. 
Has. Adam’s Peak, Ceylon. Mrs. Col. Walker. 
A very well marked species, which we have received from 
Mrs. Walker alone. - Stipes and main rachis of a mahogany 
colour, flattened and grooved above when dry, naked, or with 
small deciduous scales below. Pinnules, as it were, jointed on 
the rachis, at the base pinnated, the pinnules being distinct, 
contracted at the base, hence elliptical. Texture firm, rigid, 
coriaceous, rich brown when dry, paler beneath. Involucres 
membranous, but firm, apparently bursting rather unequally, 
on the superior half vertically, and thus irregularly 2-lobed ; this. 
large, broad involucre, is reflected on the costa, and still covers 
in a measure the sorus, on the lower side, as with a hood. My 
specimens being advanced in fruit, I cannot certainly say that 
the involucre wholly surrounds the sorus when young: it is 
probable it does, and that the structure is analogous to that 
of C. Beyrichiana, Presl.—I do not look upon it as a dimidiate 
involucre, or I should place it in Hemitelia. 
Fig. 1. Portion of a pinna, upper side. f. 2. Pinnule, with 
fructification, seen from beneath: nat. size. f.3. Segment of 
pinnule, with sori. f. 4. Involucre and receptacle :—magnified. 
