TAB. C. 



Hemitelia (Amphicosmia) platylepis, Hook. 



Stipite elongate castaneo nitido versus basin crassitie (ligitis 

 humani, squamis maximis ovatis nitidissimis acuminatis 

 atro-fuscis margine pallidioribus suberosis basi squamulosis 

 paleaceis, frondibus amplissimis subcoriaceis ubique hirsu- 

 tulis tripinnatis, pinnis primariis inferioribus longe petiolatis 

 pedalibus sesquipedalibus ovato-oblongis, secundariis sessi- 

 libus oblongo-lanceolatis acuminatis, pinnulis 3-4 lineas 

 longis linearibus acutis marginibus recurvatis serratis, venis 

 furcatis ad furcaturam unisoris, rachibus adpresse villosis 

 ultimis alatis, involucro exacte hemisphasrico membranaceo 

 margine ereoso-denticulato, receptaculo elevato, capsulis 

 pilis articulatis intermixtis. 



Hab. Near San Carlos, Rio Negro, tributary of the Amazon, 

 Brazil, R. Spruce, n. 3027. 



This is a Hemitelia, according to our views of the Genus, 

 but would be an Amphicosmia of the late Mr. Gardner, Lond. 

 Journ. of Bot. 1, p. 441 ; differing from Hemitelia in its free 

 venation. The involucre is exactly the same as in our H. Host- 

 manni and H. Parheri, described in the " Species Filicum,"and 

 figured in the 7th volume of our "Icones Plantarum." It is 

 probably nearly allied to Cyathea multiflora of Sir J. E. Smith, 

 which has the " rachis winged," and which Gardner refers to 

 Amphicosmia : but I have never seen an authentic specimen, 

 which I believe only exists in the Banksian Herbarium, and 

 which is stated to be a native of Jamaica. In general the 

 specimens we receive of these gigantic Ferns are too imperfect 

 lor accurate description, even the stipes is often neglected, 

 which not unfrequently affords good characters in the pecu- 

 liarities of its clothing especially, as is remarkably the case 

 in the species now under consideration ; and, the involucre 

 being very fragile, is too frequently injured, and leads one 

 astray in regard to the Genus. 



Tab. C. Fig. 1. Base of the stipes of Hemitelia (Amphi- 

 cosmia) platylepis, Hook., with its remarkable large scales 

 and the squamules at their point of insertion ; and f. 2. 

 portions of a primary pinna of a fertile frond ; natural size. 

 f. 3. Under side of a barren pinnule, with a portion of the 

 winged rachis ; magnified, f. 5. Portion of a fertile pinnule, 

 with a sorus; /. 6. Involucre and receptacle from which 

 most of the capsules have fallen ; and f. 7. capsules with 

 accompanying hairs ; more magnified. 



Ceht. 2. t. 100. 



