160 PLATYCERIUM GRANDE. 



Introduced into the Royal Gardens, Kew, by Mr. Bidwill, 

 in the year 1842. 



An epiphytal Fern, having fertile and sterile fronds different. 

 The sterile frond sessile, nearly round, and ascending, the 

 upper portion being divided into a number of broad blunt 

 segments, permanent, spongy in texture, and depressed. 



Fertile fronds simple, two or three times divided, horizontal, 

 and pendulous at the apex, thick and coriaceous, widening 

 upwards, and being articulated on a brief rhizoma. 



Veins repeatedly forked and distantly anastomosing; venules 

 internal, compoundly reticulated, and having free veinlets 

 terminating in the areoles. 



Sori near the sinus of the first division, and forming a large 

 triangular patch. 



The fronds entirely covered with a stellate pubescence, 

 giving the Fern a glaucous, or rather woolly appearance. 



Length of sterile frond twenty-four to thirty inches, of fer- 

 tile frond from thirty to thirty-six inches. . 



For plants of this Fern I am indebted to Messrs. Rollisson, 

 of Tooting, and to Mr. J. Henderson, of Wentworth; and for 

 fronds to the same gentlemen. 



It may be procured of any of the principal Nurserymen. 



The illustration is from a frond sent by Messrs. Rollisson, of 

 Tooting; and the wood engraving, shewing the habit of the 

 plant, is from a photograph of a plant in my own collection. 



