167 



healthy existence. T. pyxidiferum is distinguished by the broad 

 rerolute mouths of the invohicres, the involucres being broadly winged 

 and sunk in the pinnules of the frond ; the receptacles are of consi- 

 derable length. The plant from Kerry is similar in form to the Tri- 

 choraanes alatum of Jamaica, but from that it is separated by the more 

 membranous structure of the frond of T. alatum, and in the forked 

 cilia existing at the termination of the pinnae. Many of the Hyraeno- 

 phylla are extremely beautiful, and several bear a striking resemblance 

 to our native plants, Wilsoni and Tunbridgense. Thus, H. axillare 

 has orbicular involucra, situated as in H. Wilsoni, and H. polyanthus 

 another example, its reticulated ovate involucra dividing similar to H, 

 Wilsoni. H. dilatatum and seraibivalve of New Zealand, crispatum 

 from Nepaul, and the West Indian undulatum are all beautiful ex- 

 amples. The fruit of H. crispatum bears, in the character of its 

 orbicular involucre and the position of growth, much resemblance to 

 H. Tunbridgense. This beautiful plant is found in the Peruvian 

 Andes, near the limits of perpetual snow, embracing with its creeping 

 rhizomata the trunks of trees. But the handsomest is Hymenophyl- 

 lura elasticum from the Mauritius, which covers the moist and shaded 

 trunks of trees. Its pinnules are elastic, and its shining appearance 

 contrasts with beautiful effect with the black midribs. 



Mr. Andrews, in showing the specimens of this beautiful fern, said 

 that his friend Dr. Alexander, R.N., a most zealous botanist, had seen 

 H. elasticum in great abundance in a mountain cave at Kow-Loon, 

 the side opposite Hong-Kong. He had also met with that rare fern, 

 Anthropium Boryanum, in shaded places on the banks of the Sara- 

 wak, Borneo, near Ra,jah Brook's residence. Mr. Call well had spoken 

 of the manner he had grown the Trichomanes suspended ; the plants 

 appeared to delight in that position of growth, and Mr. Andrews had 

 successfully cultivated them in that manner, and the plants had pro- 

 duced fructification in perfection. In this manner, creeping over a 

 moistened surface, none would appear more beautiful than Tricho- 

 manes membranaceum, or those beautiful plants T. reptans, apodum, 

 and parvulum, which, like frondose Jungermanniae, spread over the 

 branches of trees. He would mention a very pretty Jungermannia, 

 peculiar, as a parasite, to T. radicans, which he found on the Kerry 

 plants — the Jungermannia minutissima. On receiving a specimen of 

 T. radicans from the Mauritius, he found this Jungermannia on the 

 frond identical with the Kerry parasite. Jungermannia Hutchinsea 

 and Protonema cryptarum are also favorite companions of Tricho- 

 manes. Mr. Andrews would mention a singular character of the fern ; 



