256 CHAEACTEES OF TEIBES AND GENEEA. 



sium, representing little chests, the inner valve being the 

 lid, which, when oj)en, has the resemblance of gaping jaws, 

 hence the name Hiatea given to the genus by Robert Brown.* 



The genns consists of about six or seven species, found 

 in the Sandwich Islands, Mexico, India, Malaj', Philippine 

 Islands, and China. With the exception of C. Barometz, 

 which has decumbent caudex, the others are erect arbores- 

 cent, the stem of C. rjlaucum attaining the height of 20 or 

 more feet. 



* Caudex decumbent. 



Sp. C. Barometz (/. Sm.) (v v.) ; 0. Assamicum {Hook.') 



** Caudex erect, arlorescent. 



C. glaucum {Hooh.) ; 0. Menziesii (Hook.) (v v.) ; C. 

 Chamissoi (Kaulf.) ; C. Schiedei (Schlect.) (v v.) ; C. regale 

 Linden (v V.) 



Ocs. — Gibotiuin Barometz is a native of China, and plants 

 cultivated at Kew were introduced some time before 1834 

 by John Reeves, who was for many years "tea Taster" at 

 Canton, for the East India Company ; he learned that this 

 Fern was the origin of the fabulous story of "Barometz" 

 or the " Tartarian Lamb." 



138.— Thtesopteeis, KuiKo (1834). 

 Eooh. Sp. FU. 

 Vernation fasciculate, erect, arborescent. Fronds decom- 

 j)0und multifid, the fertile portion contracted, formin"- 

 panicles of globose sori. Veins of sterile seg-ments pinnate ■ 

 venules free. Accessory and sjiecial indusia equal, uniform, 

 constituting a calyciform cyst, including sessile compressed 

 sporangia seated on an elevated globose receptacle. 

 Type. Tliijrsopteris elegans, Kvnze. 



* In Hei-b. Meuzies, Eiit. j\Ius. 



