CHEIROPLEURIA 



20I 



CH. XLV] 



of all (Fig. 709 rt): in this it compares with Lophosoria and Metaxya, and also 

 with Platycerium (Hofmeister, Higher Crypt, p. 252): but it differs from 

 Matonia and Dipteris. The leaves are strongly dimorphic, the fertile being the 

 taller, and very narrow (Fig. 709, a, b). The sterile leaves have a leathery blade 

 borne on a wiry petiole. The blade may be entire, or two-lobed as the specific 

 name implies, or many-lobed. The most complex are found on fully matured 



Fig. 709 rt. Drawing by Dr J. McL. 

 Thompson of a rhizome of Cheiro- 

 pleiiria biaispis (Bl ) Presl with the 

 superficial hairs removed so as to 

 expose the leaf-bases, which are num- 

 bered /. i — /. viii, and the lateral axes 

 which spring from the bases of some 

 of them, numbered ax. \-ax. iv. The 

 leaves iii, vi, vii, viii have no associated 

 axes. The leaf-arrangement is alternate, 

 and the climbing shoot is seen from 

 the side facing away from the support. 



(X2.) 



Fig. 710. Trace of the vascular system at the base of the 

 lamina of a large sterile leaf of Chei7-opleiiria, showing 

 the pedate relation of the main veins, after the manner 

 of JMaioiiia. The smaller veins show the ^'venatio 

 anaxeti". ( x 4.) 



plants, their form having obvious relation to dichotomy. Comparison with 

 Dipteris conjiigata shows unity of type, which the venation confirms (Vol. II, 

 Fig. 568). The main veins dichotomise with distinct pedate sequence, after the 

 manner of Matonia (Fig. 710). From them branches arise which anastomose 

 freely, the branchlets terminating blindly within the meshes, after the type 

 o{''venatio a?iaxeti" so well represented in Dipteris. This is already initiated 

 in the juvenile leaves, and it finds its like in the juvenile leaves oi Platycerium 



