CHARACTERS OF TRIBES AND GENERA. 245 



separation into at least two distinct groups, one to con- 

 tain those species in which the stipes are adherent ; and 

 the other those in which the stipes are articulated with 

 the stem, the pinnae also being articulated, and having a 

 black scutaeform (generally oblong) gland at their base on 

 the rachis. 



WEST INDIAN AND AMERICAN. 



Sp. C. arborea, Sm. (v v.) ; var. C. pallida, Hook. Sp. Fil. 



OBS. Great uncertainty has always existed as to which 

 West Indian tree Fern should bear the. name of Cyathea 

 arlorea, a species founded by Linna3us on Plumier's figures 

 of a Martinique Fern. The figure represents a tree Fern 

 with a smooth, cylindrical, tesselated stem, described as 

 being 10 to 11 feet high and 6 inches thick, and although 

 the artist has exaggerated the tessellated character, it is 

 evident that it is one of the species having the stipes arti- 

 culated with the stem, indeed I have no doubt that it is the 

 prototype of the fine tree Ferns cultivated in Kew Gardens 

 under the name of Cyafhea elegans Heward, received from 

 both Martinique and Jamaica, one plant having a stem 10 

 feet high, as in Plumier's figure. Herbarium specimens of 

 this and C. aculeata are very similar, and only specifically 

 distinguished by the stipes of the latter being adherent 

 and prickly 



C. serra, Willd. (v v.) ; C. insignis, Eat. (v v.) (C. prin- 

 ceps, J. Sm. Ferns Brit, and For.) ; C. Imrayana, Hook. 

 C. Mexicana, Schlecht. ; C. divergens, Kze. ; C. Schanschin 

 Mart. ; C. cuspidata, Kze. ; C. nigricans, Klot. (v v.) ; C. 

 aculeata, Willd. (v v.) ; C. vestita, Mart. ; C. Gardneri, 

 Hook. ; C. equestris, Kze. C. muricata, Willd. (v v.) ; C. 

 hirtnla, Mart. 



