CHAEACTEES OF TEIDES AND GENEEA. 257 



lUust. Hook, and Bauer, t. 4-1., A ; Moore Ind. Fil., p. 83, 

 B ; J. Sm. Ferns, Brit, and For., fig. 129 ; Hook. Syn. 

 Fil,, t. 1, fig-. 3. 



Obs. — This genus is found on a solitary species, a native 

 of Juan Fernandez ; it is said to have a slender arborescent 

 stem, whicli seems to be correct, as shown by imported 

 plants cultivated at Kew. 



In the " Species Filicum " Thyrsopteris is placed in the 

 tribe Ci/athea, but its terminal marginal sori, and general 

 habit, clearly indicates its relationship to be with Dicksonia. 

 It ag-rees with the following genus, Balantium, in having 

 decompound ironds, differing only in the fertile segments 

 being contracted into pedicels, each bearing a globose 

 sorus, forming panicles, hence the name Panicularia given 

 to the genus by Colla in 1836. 



Sp. T. elegans, Kze. (v v.) {ScJtk. Fil. Sup2)I.,p. 3, t. 1.) 



139.— Balantium, Kaulf. (1824.) 

 Dichsonia, HooJc. Sp. Fil. 



Vernation fasciculate, decumbent, densely criniferous. 

 Fronds deltoid, tripinnate, smooth ; ultimate pinnules 

 dentate, multifid. Veins pinnate, venules free, simple or 

 forked. Receptacles punctiform, terminal. Sori large, 

 transversely oblong, asserted in thryseform clusters. Tn~ 

 dusiura bivalved, coriaceous, the two valves nearly equal, 

 concave, reniform. 



Type. Diclcsonia Culcita, L'Herit. 



Illust. Hook, and Bauer. Gen. Fil., t. 60 A. ; J. Sm. 

 Ferns, Brit, and For., fig. 126. 



Obs. The technical character of this genus differs but 

 little from Thyrsopteris, but is distinguished by the caudex 

 being decumbent. 



The typical species is a native of the Azores and Madeira, 



