TAB. LXVI. 

 Alsophila podophylla, Hook. 



Frondibus bi-tri-(quadri ?)-pinnatis glabris, pinnulis 4-6-polli- 

 carlbus petiolatis lineari-oblongo-lanceolatis coriaceo-mem- 

 branaceis acuminatis sinuato-dentatis basi truncatis apice 

 serratia terminali pinnatifido-lobato majore subtus pallidi- 

 oribus, venis infimis solummodo cum proxima vena anasto- 

 mosantibus, soris copiosis sparsis globosis, capsulis com- 

 pactis, receptaculo magno hemisphserico, costa subtu8 pu- 

 bescenti-squamulosa. 



Alsophila podophylla, Hook, in Kew Gard. Misc. 9, p. 334. 



Hab. Chusan, Alexander. Hong Kong, Dr. Harland, J. C. 

 Bowring, Esq. Col. Urquhart ; abundant at the foot of Vic- 

 toria Peak, in a ravine, Wilford. 



A very distinct and well marked species ; its nearest ally is 

 probably Als. gigantea, Wall. The caudex is 4-8 feet high. 

 Fronds 8-9 feet long. Stipes densely scaly below, and, as 

 Well as the main rachises, bright castaneous when dry, rough 

 to the touch, but not to the naked eye, with minute raised 

 points. Veins in fascicles ; the lowest veinlet in each fascicle 

 very frequently uniting with the lower one of the opposite 

 fascicle and thus forming a triangular areole next the costa, 

 the rest of the veinlets free. This plant would probably be 

 a Gymnosphcera of Blume and may be, and possibly is, his G. 

 glabra ; but with the very brief character given by that 

 author of less than two lines, it is impossible to form any 

 decided opinion, one way or the other. 



Tab. LXVI. Figs. 1, 2, 3. Portions of a frond of Also- 

 phila podophylla, sterile and fertile ; natural size. f. 4. Por- 

 tion of a fertile pinna, showing the venation ; magnified, f. 5. 

 Single sorus, and/. 6. Eeceptacle, from which the capsules 

 have fallen ; more magnified. 



CEIfl. 2. T. 66. 



