GENEBA OF FEBNS : 



profess to reject venation as a generic character, as in reality, 

 tacit admission of its importance. 

 Ex.: H. Brownii, J. 8m. 



Order POLYPODIACE^J. Tribe 

 1 THYBSOPTEBIDEJE. 



144. THYBSOPTEBIS, Kunze, lAnnaa. ix. 507 ; Id., 



Schkuhr, Supp. i. 3, t. 1. 

 PAKICTOABIA, Cotta. 



Sori involucrate, globose, obliquely-reflexed on thyrsoid pani- 

 cles; the receptacles large, gl6bose, spongy, terminating the 

 rachiform segments of the fertile portions. Involucres coriaceous, 

 cup-shaped, entire, petiolate. Veins (of tertiary sterile pinnules) 

 pinnate; venules simple or forked, free, the thickened apices 

 terminating within the margin. 



Fronds large supradecompound, the basal pinnules of the 

 lower pinnae fertile with contracted rachiform unisoriferous 

 ultimate segments ; stipes several (4 5) feet long, " as thick 

 as a walking stick," criniferous at the base ; leafy portion four 

 to five feet long, the lowest pinnae about two feet. Rhizome 

 short thick decumbent, tufted. A very curious large-growing 

 fern, remarkable for the production of distinct contracted fertile, 

 and leafy barren portions, intermixed on the decompound fronds, 

 by which character it is known from the other genera of the 

 cyatheaceous group. 



Ex.: T. elegans, Kze. 



2 CTATHE^E. 

 (a) Involucres complete cup-shaped. 



145. CYATHEA, Smith, Mem. Acad. Turin, v. 416. 

 SPH*BOPTEBIS, Sernhardi ; DrspHEWiA, Presl; NOTOCABPIA, Preel; 



SCHIZOC-SNA, J. Smith, ; POLYPODII 8p., Auct. ; ALSOPHILJB Sp., Auct.; 



HBKITKLIJS sp., Auct. 



Sori involucrate, globose; the receptacles columnar or globose, 

 axillary at the forking of a vein, or medial. Involucre membra- 



