Pinna of fertile Frond -under side. 



BRAINEA INSIGNIS. 

 J. Smith. 



PLATE XLIX. VOL. IV. 



JBowringia insignis, Hookee. 



JBrainea — ? Insignis — Sliowy . 



A RARE, handsome species, not yet to be found in collections, 

 except at the Royal Gardens, Kew. 



An evergreen, greenhouse Fern. 



Native of China, having been discovered at Hong Kong. 



Introduced into the E-oyal Gardens, Kew, in 1856. 



Fronds pinnate, apex pointed, pinnse linear-lanceolate; from 

 four to six inches in length, sub-sessile, the base truncate 

 above and articulated below, the margin being crenate-serrulate. 



Veins flabellately forked, free exteriorly, the basal venules 

 angularly anastomosing, and forming a costal row of oblique 

 areoles, which are cuneiform. 



In the fertile fronds the pinnae are much contracted; pinnee 

 linear. 



Sori formed on the transverse anastomosing venules and 

 bases of the free venules, and forming a broad continuous or 

 sub-interrupted transverse sorus, destitute of an indusium; 

 eventually confluent. 



The fronds rising out of an erect, arboi'eous corm, which 

 attains the height of fifty inches. 



