184 ALSOFHILA PRUINATA. 



A very beautiful large-growing species, and exceedingly- 

 distinct. 



An evergreen stove Fern. 



Native of Jamaica, Brazil, Chili, Mexico, Juan Fernandez, 

 Conception Island, Valdivia, Columbia, Venezuela, Caraccas, 

 New Granada, and Chiloe. 



Fronds bipinnate and ovate-lanceolate; pinnules very numerous, 

 lanceolate, profoundly pinnatifid, and not much exceeding an 

 inch in length; segments ovate-lanceolate, very acute, and 

 sinuato-serrate. 



Veins simple. 



A solitary sorus at the base of each segment. 



Rachis and stipes with soft woolly hairs. 



Length of frond from four to six feet; colour light green 

 on the upper surface, and very glaucous beneath, almost 

 silvery, indeed as much so as the Cyathea dealbata. 



Sir W. J. Hooker remarks that it is an abundant Jamaica 

 Fern, and that it has a stem from three to eight feet in 

 height, the stipes perfectly smooth, and that Mr. Douglas 

 compares it to a small pine tree, leafy at the top. 



For fronds I must tender my thanks to Mr. G. Norman, of 

 Hull. 



This plant can be procured of Messrs. Veitch, of Chelsea; 

 Sim, of Foot's Cray; Kennedy, of Covent Garden; and Booth, 

 of Hamburg. 



The illustration is from a frond forwarded by Mr. Norman. 



