134 PELLiEA. 



one genus, but wc hardly think that Mr. J. Smith (with whom the venation is a 

 sine tjud non) will sanction the adoption of his Doryopterk for it. Dr. Klotzsch 

 too overlooks the character (if indeed there be such a character conn font) of the sori 

 being on the veins or veinlets in Platyloma, J. Sm. (corresponding with PdUpa), 

 and the continuous marginal receptacle of his Doryopteris. I shall have occasion 

 to refer to this subject in considering the genus Pteris as adopted in this work. 



Pellcea lomariacea I believe to be a very distinct species from the preceding, 

 tolerably constant in the form of the fertile frond, and, like Pteris- pedala, singu- 

 larly variable in the sterile frond, which is always smaller, and on a much shorter 

 stipes than the fertile one. In the form I have called (a.), the type of the species, 

 the sterile frond is not peculiarly different from the fertile one; in both the stipes 

 is twice the length of the sterile one, and from 1 to nearly 2 feet long. The se- 

 cond var. (b.) is best understood by the figure of the sterile and fertile frond at 

 Tab. CXII. A. Our var. (c.) is a very remarkable one; the frond is broader than 

 long in both the sterile and fertile frond : the former is quite palmate, cut oidy 

 about halfway down into seven broad segments, altogether resembling a 7-lobed 

 ivy-leaf ; while in the fertile frond the divisions reach almost to the base, the 

 segments are linear, flahellately disposed ; at the base are two deflected, lesser 

 lobes. Indeed the three varieties have, at first sight, so distinct an appearance 

 from each other, that did we not know how liable allied species are to sport, 

 they would not be suspected to belong to one and the same species. 



4. P. Tamburii, Hook. ; caudex . . . , frond 6 inches long 

 submembranaceo- coriaceous white and powdery beneath 

 deeply and pedately 5-partite, primary lobes deeply pinna- 

 tifid the segments subovate a little falcate u.sually obtuse 

 undivided or subpinnatifid crenate with a black dot in the 

 sinus of the crenatures, lower or lateral primary lobes ovato- 

 acuminate in circumscription, central primary lobe broad lan- 

 ceolate, veins sunk obscure (except when held between the 

 eye and the light) forked free terminating in a 2-lobed sori- 

 ferous apex which is confluent with a marginal line, involu- 

 cre subintramarginal universal and continuing all round to 

 the points of the lobes slightly sinuate and a little trans- 

 versely waved, sori subconfluent but all originating on the 

 2-lobed apex of the vein, stipes longer than the frond and 

 as well as the costa beneath ebeneous purple very glossy. 

 (Tab. CXXIX. A.) 



Hab. Tambur River, Eastern Nepal, Dr. Hooker. — This is a very peculiar species, 

 truly pedate in the frond, but with a much less hard or rigid and strictly coriaceous 

 texture than the other species of this section. The general form and appear- 

 ance, and especially the white powdery clothing of the fronds, remind one of 

 some of the farinose species of Cheilanthes ; but the involucre is continuous, and 

 extends round the apices and along every lobe of the whole frond. The colour 

 of the upper surface, in the dried state at least of the fronds, is of a rich tawny 

 brown colour, as if withered ; yet the fructification is not seen to be in a peculiarly 

 advanced state, as if withering from age : the veins are rather wide apart, a little 

 elevated, and consequently visible on the upper surface, quite sunk, and invisible 

 beneath, except when held between the eye and the light, and then they are very 

 conspicuous. There is an evident marginal line at the ])oint of junction of the 

 involucre and the frond, and each veinlet terminates in a thickened, forked, or two- 



