150 



EOTH S FEEN. 



and are characterized by a peculiarity in vernation which I 

 have not hitherto seen noticed; the main rachis of the frond, 

 instead of being regularly circinate, or composed of diminish- 

 ing rings, like those of an Ionic volute, is doubled near the in- 

 sertion of the second pair of pinnse, and turns back, forming 



a kind of loop. I have endeavoured to exemplify this in the 

 accompanying figures, which are of the natural size. Fig. a 

 shows the crown of the caudex before the fronds have begun to 

 expand ; h is the basal portion of the stipes of a young frond ; 

 c its apex ; d shows the peculiar bend of the frond above de- 

 scribed ; and e the rachis of the same frond, in the same 

 position, but stripped of its pinnae and scales. 



