upon the pinnule, and are sometimes so broad on the narrower 
pinnules, that they cccupy a considerable portion, almost one- 
half, of the breadth of the pagina. At length they break trans- 
versely into pieces of unequal lengths, separating entirely from 
their attachment, and carry away with them the crowded cap- 
sules, of which the receptacle is at the inner base. Mr. Purdie 
has recorded his observation, that “ when the sori and involucres 
have separated and fallen away so completely that no trace of 
them is left, those pinnules now increase gradually in size, and 
remain broad sterile ones. Hence it is that the fructified pin- 
nules are always the youngest, and at the extremity of the plant, 
and in tall plants difficult to be procured.” Some of these ste- 
rile pine are among the largest of the pinnules of Ferns I have 
seen. Whatever claim botanists may think this Fern to possess 
to the rank of a genus, I cannot accede to M. Fée’s views of re- 
ferring to the same, as he has done, Blechnum orientule, Bl., and 
Finlaysonianum, Wall., and even Lomaria Patersoni. If a genus 
at all, it must be limited to one species, from which the B/. scan- 
dens of Bory (Salpichlena scandens, Presl) is by no means diffe- 
rent. 
PuatE 15. Fig. 1. Small portion of a plant of Blechnum (Salpichlena) volu- 
bile, Kifs. 2. Fertile pinnule:—zatural size. 3. Portion of sterile pinna, show- 
ing the venation,—magnified. 4. Small portion of a fertile pinna, with portions 
of sori. 5. Involucre, from the base of which the capsules have fallen :—more 
highly magnified. 
